Elon Musk is no longer maintaining a consistent physical presence at the White House as he begins to wind down his formal involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role based just steps away from the Oval Office. Though his shift to remote advising hadn’t been previously disclosed, the change marks a transition rather than an exit.
“Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect,” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told The New York Post during a detailed interview in recognition of President Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Wiles explained that Musk’s absence from the White House in recent weeks hasn’t diminished his influence. “He hasn’t been here physically, but it really doesn’t matter much,” she said.
She also emphasized that Musk’s team is still actively engaged in their work, continuing their operations from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which sits adjacent to the West Wing.
It remains uncertain how frequently Musk intends to return to the White House complex before the end of May, when his term as an unpaid special government employee is set to conclude. After that point, he is expected to continue contributing in an informal advisory capacity.
Earlier in Trump’s return to office, Musk was a prominent figure in day-to-day administration activities. He regularly delivered in-person briefings to the president, participated in cabinet discussions, and accompanied Trump on several trips aboard Air Force One. His young son, X, was often in tow during these travels. Musk frequently spoke about a plan to cut $1 trillion from the federal deficit — a goal he aimed to achieve by halving the current figure.
The exact dollar amount that DOGE has managed to save remains unclear.
“He’s not out of it altogether. He’s just not physically present as much as he was,” Wiles said.
“The people that are doing this work are here doing good things and paying attention to the details. He’ll be stepping back a little, but he’s certainly not abandoning it. And his people are definitely not.”
During the early weeks of the administration, Musk made waves throughout Washington as he spearheaded major cost-cutting initiatives. Among his targets was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its 10,000-strong workforce. He also supported the Office of Management and Budget in its push to dismantle the 1,700-person Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Musk’s influence extended across a broad swath of government departments — from education to defense — as well as numerous smaller agencies scattered across the federal bureaucracy.
His aggressive agenda drew sharp criticism from Democrats and led to acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles and charging infrastructure. In response, Trump staged a high-profile show of solidarity by purchasing a Tesla on the White House lawn on March 11 and called on the Justice Department to crack down on those responsible, labeling them “domestic terrorists.”
During a recent Tesla earnings call, Musk signaled a shift in his priorities. “Starting next month, I will be allocating far more of my time to Tesla,” he said.
The billionaire entrepreneur, who was born in South Africa, noted that “the major work of establishing” DOGE is now complete. Still, he expressed interest in remaining involved in public service on a limited basis, stating he would continue to dedicate “a day or two a week on government matters, as long as it is useful.”
{Matzav.com}