Elon Musk has stopped working from the White House regularly, New York Post reported. The Tesla CEO, who served as an unpaid special government employee under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has stepped back from in-person duties. However, he still participates through phone calls and remote coordination. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles confirmed this change. “Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect,” she told The Post. “He hasn’t been here physically, but it really doesn’t matter much.”
He Played a Major Role Early in Trump’s Presidency
During Donald Trump’s initial months in office, Musk played a key advisory role. He frequently attended meetings at the White House, briefed Trump in the Oval Office, and even flew on Air Force One. His main goal under DOGE was to help reduce the federal deficit by $1 trillion and overhaul inefficient government agencies. He pushed for smaller government structures and backed deep spending cuts. Notably, he proposed reductions in funding for agencies like USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
DOGE’s Financial Impact Remains Unclear
Although Musk’s influence shaped several reforms, the actual financial savings under DOGE remain uncertain. Officials have yet to release specific figures. Still, the program aimed to cut unnecessary spending, merge overlapping departments, and boost overall efficiency.
Despite Musk’s reduced physical presence, his team continues to operate from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the West Wing. He remains engaged behind the scenes. “He’s not out of it altogether… He’ll be stepping back a little, but he’s certainly not abandoning it,” Wiles said, highlighting Musk’s ongoing influence.
He Now Prioritizes Tesla
Last week, Musk announced that he will dedicate more time to Tesla. During a Tesla earnings call, he said, “I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla starting next month.” He added that most of DOGE’s core setup is already complete. Still, Musk said he plans to contribute “a day or two a week” to government projects “as long as it is useful.”
