American billionaire businessman Elon Musk announced that he is leaving his position as an advisor to US President Donald Trump.
“As my planned term as a special government official comes to an end, I thank President Donald Trump for providing me with the opportunity to reduce waste,” Musk said in a statement on the X social media platform.
Musk said of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he headed during his tenure, “DOGE’s mission will grow stronger over time and become a way of life across the government.”
A White House official also confirmed to Anadolu Agency that Musk had left his post.
Musk’s departure comes after disagreements over President Trump’s signature budget and tax cut bill, which includes major spending increases.
“Frankly, I’m disappointed to see this massive spending bill that increases the deficit rather than reduces it,” Musk said in an interview with CBS. “This bill undermines the work that the DOGE team has done.”
Musk served in Trump’s second term
Musk was appointed to head DOGE, which was established to eliminate waste, on Trump’s first day in office.
Since taking office, thousands of jobs have been laid off in the federal government as part of the austerity measures prepared by Musk and his team, while aid provided by institutions such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has also been significantly reduced.
On the other hand, Tesla, owned by Musk, who has taken an active role in the Trump administration and has become the focus of criticism due to his political actions, has been subject to protests and boycotts.
Tesla’s net profit also fell 71 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.
