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The White House has confirmed that tech billionaire Elon Musk is no longer frequently on-site, marking the end of his prominent initial phase of working closely with the Trump administration.
The wealthiest individual globally is slowly disengaging from his formal capacity within the Office of Federal Efficient Management (OFEM), the contentious cost-reduction task force established by Trump at the core of his presidency.
Musk’s Presence Diminishes
Following months of being a dominant figure in the West Wing, participating in Cabinet gatherings, traveling with the president on Air Force One, and even bringing his young son ‘X’ to high-level budget discussions, Musk’s visibility at the White House has noticeably decreased.
“Instead of face-to-face meetings, I now communicate with him over the phone, but the outcome remains the same,” said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to The New York Post. “He hasn’t entirely withdrawn. He’s just not physically present as frequently as before.”
Wiles maintains that Musk’s team, based in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, will continue to advance his initiatives. “His physical absence doesn’t significantly matter,” she stated. “The individuals drives OFEM’s work and are committed to the details.” She emphasized that although Musk may step back, both he and his team will remain actively engaged.
The OFEM Initiative
Musk’s waning engagement might indicate the commencement of the conclusion for one of the most tumultuous experiments in contemporary U.S. policymaking.
Early Initiatives and Reactions
Throughout the initial months of Trump’s second term, Musk was ubiquitous—briefing the president directly, overhauling federal departments, and confidently pledging to reduce the federal deficit by $1 trillion, vowing to halve that figure by the fiscal year’s end.
From the moment Trump astonishingly appointed Musk as an uncompensated special government employee and unofficial ‘Efficiency Czar,’ the entrepreneur’s influence sparked both admiration and controversy.
Democrats criticized Musk for allegedly staging a Silicon Valley takeover of American democracy. In contrast, Republicans praised him as the sole individual willing to tackle the federal bureaucracy as a malfunctioning system in desperate need of a complete overhaul.
Key Achievements and Controversies
Under OFEM, Musk aimed to dismantle what he and Trump referred to as the ‘Bureaucracy of Waste.’ This endeavor has resulted in the downsizing and attempted dissolution of numerous agencies and the dismissal of over 200,000 federal workers. It has also encountered legal challenges and lawsuits.
- Targeted significant and symbolic entities, such as the 10,000-employee U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which he significantly reduced, and the planned closure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
- By March, Musk’s campaign against Washington had escalated to the point where vandals began targeting Tesla vehicles and protesting outside showrooms. They accused the entrepreneur of converting federal cuts into a tech-sector feeding frenzy.
- In response, Trump organized a political event on the White House grounds, purchasing a Tesla on camera. He labeled the vandals ‘domestic terrorists’ and directed the DOJ to respond firmly.
Musk’s Shifting Focus
Last week, Musk acknowledged that he would be decreasing his involvement with the White House.
Musk’s closed working relationship with Trump, which began in March, was scheduled to conclude at the end of May. He stated that he would continue to assist Trump in reforming the government but not on a full-time basis.
“Starting next month, I will dedicate significantly more of my time to Tesla,” he announced during a Tesla earnings call. “The primary work of establishing OFEM has been accomplished.” However, he did not rule out future government work, mentioning his willingness to commit one or two days per week to governmental matters if beneficial.
Despite Musk’s ambitious pledges to decrease the deficit and shutter bloated agencies, the administration has yet to release an official savings report.
Criticism and Uncertainty
Critics have portrayed the spending cuts as impetuous and perilous, particularly in emergency and humanitarian assistance abroad. Conversely, Trump and Musk insist that these cuts are essential for combating waste and fraud.
Musk’s reduced involvement raises questions about OFEM’s future. However, governance experts suggest that the cost-cutting measures will persist.
An OFEM website, which regularly updates claimed taxpayer savings—$160 billion to date—has been plagued by inaccuracies and corrections.