White House Says DOGE Leadership Will Consist of Trump Cabinet Officials

The White House has confirmed that Elon Musk is stepping down from his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative aimed at curbing federal waste, fraud, and abuse.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that DOGE leadership will now consist of the entire Cabinet and President Donald Trump himself.

Each Cabinet member, she stated, will oversee DOGE efforts within their respective agencies.

Leavitt emphasized that all Cabinet secretaries are committed to continuing the mission Musk helped lead.

She said they would work alongside political appointees who have already been integrated into the DOGE framework.

Despite Musk’s exit, Leavitt said the mission of DOGE would remain active and unchanged, as the Conservative Brief reported.

She stressed that the White House remains focused on reducing inefficiencies throughout the federal government.

Musk, who had served as a senior adviser to President Trump, voiced frustration over what he described as a contradiction between his goals and the administration’s legislative actions.

In a preview of his interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Musk criticized the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” championed by Trump, citing its high price tag and its negative impact on deficit reduction efforts.

Musk expressed disappointment with the bill’s spending levels, calling it a setback to the DOGE program’s original intentions of cutting the federal budget significantly.

Musk’s departure, made official in a social media post on X Wednesday evening, ends a high-profile yet contentious advisory role in the Trump administration. He had joined with the intention of reshaping the bureaucracy.

According to the Associated Press, Musk encountered major obstacles during his tenure, including internal resistance from long-time government officials and limited success in executing his cost-cutting agenda.

Initially aiming for $2 trillion in cuts, Musk lowered his expectations to $1 trillion, and then to just $150 billion, as he clashed with entrenched federal staff and faced political pushback from both parties.

The AP also reported that Musk’s aggressive reforms led to mass layoffs and several lawsuits, as well as tensions with senior Trump officials who were reportedly uneasy about his influence.

Although Musk’s appointment was temporary by design, his decision to leave came abruptly, without prior notice. It was widely speculated that he would eventually return to focus on his core companies, Tesla and SpaceX.

His resignation message thanked Trump for the opportunity to serve, and he expressed optimism about DOGE’s future impact on government operations.

Musk posted, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.”

He concluded by stating that DOGE’s mission would persist and strengthen over time, describing it as a growing government mindset rather than a short-term initiative.

The controversial bill Musk opposed includes a mix of tax reductions, stricter immigration measures, and some spending cuts, though Musk insists it increases the deficit overall.

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”

Trump commented Wednesday, acknowledging some flaws in the legislation while expressing satisfaction with other provisions. He suggested possible revisions could be made.