WASHINGTON, D.C. — Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, will remain a key adviser to the White House even after his official role as a special government employee ends in May, according to Vice President JD Vance.
Musk has been leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a special team created to help reduce the size of the federal government. His short-term government position will soon expire, but his influence will continue, said Vance.
Musk’s Role in the Trump Administration
Since President Trump’s return to the White House, Musk has played an important role in shaping internal reform, particularly through DOGE.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Vance said:
“Elon is not done. DOGE is not done. There’s still a lot of work ahead, and he’ll remain a friend and adviser to both me and the president.”
He also added that shrinking the federal bureaucracy is a long-term mission, and Musk has already helped uncover how big and unorganized many government departments had become.
DOGE’s Work to Continue Beyond Musk
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will continue its mission even after Musk’s term ends. The department was set up to find wasteful spending, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and make federal operations run more smoothly.
“We’ve started to chip away at it, but it’s going to take years of committed effort,” Vance said.
White House officials also pushed back on a Politico report claiming Trump wanted to scale down Musk’s involvement. Trump clarified earlier that Musk would naturally step back to focus on his companies, but would still advise him closely.
Musk’s Close Ties to Trump
Musk has been a trusted voice in Trump’s inner circle since his 2024 election win. He is regularly seen at the White House and even travels with the president aboard Air Force One.
President Trump has publicly called Musk a “patriot” and showed support for Tesla by purchasing a Tesla car for White House use.
However, some Trump administration officials are not happy with Musk’s strong influence. Cabinet members have reportedly expressed concern over his growing presence in policy decisions.
Critics Raise Conflict of Interest Concerns
Democrats and other critics argue that Musk, as a private business owner, should not have so much power in the federal government. They warn of possible conflicts of interest, especially with Musk’s various business ties in technology, energy, transportation, and aerospace.
Still, the White House has stood by Musk’s efforts to reform the government, and it appears he will remain involved behind the scenes for the foreseeable future.