Musk Withdraws from White House Role, Signaling Governance Shift

Elon Musk has stepped back from his prominent role at the White House, where he headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump. After being highly visible in the administration's first 100 days—attending Cabinet meetings, participating in budget briefings, and leading aggressive federal cost-cutting efforts—Musk is now largely absent from the White House campus, though he continues to consult remotely. White House officials emphasize that Musk's team remains in place to carry out his vision, and he is not abandoning the initiative entirely. Musk's tenure sparked both praise and criticism: Republicans applauded his drive to overhaul federal bureaucracy, while Democrats accused him of undermining democratic norms. The DOGE task force, known for drastic measures like gutting agencies and firing thousands of federal workers, has faced significant controversy and legal challenges. Musk's reduced presence may signal a shift away from one of the most disruptive governance experiments in recent US history.