Elon Musk's Semi-Farewell to Trump’s Cabinet and DOGE's Monetary Impact

On Wednesday, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, expressed his gratitude to President Trump's Cabinet during what was akin to a farewell address, commenting on his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

"Working with such a remarkable team has truly been an honor," Musk told attendees at the White House event. "Thank you, everyone, for this incredible journey."

Musk highlighted the administration's achievements, stating, "The first 100 days have been incredibly productive, more so than any administration in history, setting a positive tone for future endeavors."

Referencing a change in work priorities, Musk revealed last week that his role in DOGE would diminish, intending to devote only "one or two days per week" starting in May.

While Musk has stopped working directly from the West Wing, his DOGE team continues operations nearby, within the White House complex.

"We owe you gratitude for your efforts," Trump conveyed to Musk, acknowledging the challenges Musk faced. "You've made significant sacrifices and have been treated unfairly at times."

Musk humorously responded, "They've taken to setting my cars on fire," alluding to incidents targeting Tesla vehicles since the inception of DOGE.

Acknowledging Musk's contributions, Trump noted, "You're widely respected here, and everyone in this room acknowledges the impact of your work."

In a lighter moment, Trump extended an open-ended invitation for Musk to stay involved as long as he wished, met with applause from the Cabinet.

Financial Claims and Future Prospects

During discussions of DOGE's financial impact, Trump claimed a substantial $150 billion had been saved through spending cuts and reductions in the federal workforce. Musk corrected him, commenting, "$160 billion, but who's counting?"

Initially, Musk ambitious forecasted that DOGE would ultimately cut "at least $2 trillion" from federal expenditure. However, he tempered expectations in a January interview.

"Reducing the budget by $2 trillion is an optimal scenario," Musk explained. "Aiming for this high target gives us a fair chance of achieving a $1 trillion reduction."

Experts question even the lower savings estimates, suggesting the real figure could fall significantly short due to operational costs and other factors.

The Partnership for Public Service cited DOGE-associated costs, forecasting that staff changes and productivity losses might reach $135 billion within the fiscal year.

Reflecting on his commitment to the project, Musk noted in a Tesla earnings call, "I will work on DOGE as long as the President finds it valuable, though I'll be shifting more of my attention to Tesla as we move forward."