'Breathing room' | Musk's DOGE departure to bring relief & doubt across Federal agencies

Elon Musk’s claim that he is stepping back from his role in the Trump administration’s DOGE initiative has triggered mixed reactions among federal workers, many of whom say his influence has already left a lasting mark on government operations.

Speaking on a Tesla earnings call, Musk said he plans to refocus on his business interests now that “the major work of establishing DOGE is complete.”

While he remains a special government employee, a role legally limited to 130 working days per year in the administration, his hands-on involvement with workforce reductions and internal processes has sparked ongoing concern across multiple agencies.

Federal employees from departments including the IRS, Office of Personnel Management, and Department of Agriculture expressed doubt that Musk’s retreat would result in meaningful change.