Elon Musk Out at Trump’s DOGE? Federal Staff Say the Injury Is Completed.

Even when Elon Musk is eyeing the exit, federal staff say the anxiousness and monetary chaos DOGE induced will persist with them lengthy after his tenure ends.

After Politico reported that the world’s richest man could be leaving his submit because the de facto chief of the White Home DOGE Workplace quickly, Enterprise Insider spoke with 16 present and not too long ago fired federal workers who’re left questioning what it means for the way forward for their companies — whereas most are crystal clear about their distaste for Musk himself.

“Clearly, my response is nice riddance,” an worker on the Workplace of Personnel Administration mentioned. Staff requested anonymity for worry of retaliation or as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk, and BI has verified their identities.

Musk has been a vocal advocate of firing federal workers and slashing authorities budgets. Some federal staff who voted for Trump beforehand informed BI that they help efforts to make the federal government extra environment friendly however really feel “betrayed” by widespread job cuts and upset by Musk’s function.

The White Home has denied that Musk plans to step again from the cost-cutting effort, directing BI to a submit on X by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: “Elon will depart from public service as a particular authorities worker when his unbelievable work at DOGE is full.” No timeline was given. Representatives for DOGE didn’t reply to a request for remark from BI, and Musk mentioned on X, “Yeah, pretend information.”

As a particular authorities worker, Musk is simply legally allowed to work for the federal government for at most 130 days a yr. Most workers BI spoke to doubted {that a} faster departure would make a lot of a distinction.

5 present and former workers informed BI that they suppose Musk will nonetheless affect the DOGE workplace’s operations, even when he technically offers up his authorities function. As one put it, he’ll nonetheless “pull the puppet strings — whether or not contained in the White Home or out of it.”

Others mentioned they did not see a lot daylight between Musk and his allies, like Workplace of Administration and Funds Director Russell Vought and younger DOGE workplace staffers.

“I am assuming he is getting out sooner as a result of this has value him and his companies way over he anticipated, for which I’m glad. I hope he by no means totally recovers,” a NOAA worker mentioned.

The Politico report comes as Tesla inventory has fluctuated amid Musk’s rising energy within the West Wing. The corporate’s reported first-quarter deliveries had been nicely beneath analysts’ estimates, and shares are down roughly 30% this yr. Even because the president has championed Tesla on the White Home garden, homeowners of the automobiles have been placing them up on the market in droves. Simply yesterday, a conservative decide misplaced a key election in Wisconsin — regardless of getting greater than $12 million from Musk’s PAC.

At a city corridor on Sunday, Musk mentioned that his function within the Trump administration is “costing me loads.” In the meantime, some federal workers are skeptical he’d depart his authorities affect behind.

“Possibly on paper, they’re going to say another person is in cost, however in actuality, it’s going to nonetheless be Musk,” an IRS worker mentioned. An worker at NASA predicted that Musk would merely use X to “strain anybody not doing what he desires.”

Eight workers mentioned they hoped the information was true. But lots of those that welcomed Musk’s departure additionally mentioned that DOGE has already made a major, enduring mark on the federal authorities.

After so many firings, an worker on the Institute of Museum and Library Companies mentioned Musk’s departure “can be a hopeful signal to maintain the federal workforce afloat, however a lot harm has already been achieved. We’d like extra individuals to proactively assist us somewhat than simply wait round for him to depart.”

Noah Sheidlower and Ayelet Sheffey contributed reporting.

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