Elon Musk insists the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will thrive without him. He said that the movement is larger than any single leader — even himself.
Musk likens departure from DOGE leadership to “buddhism without Buddha”
Elon Musk compared his expected departure from DOGE leadership to Buddhism thriving after Buddha. He emphasized that his presence is not essential for DOGE to succeed.
Speaking from the White House, Musk said, “Is Buddha needed for Buddhism?” when asked who will lead the department once he steps away from the role.
He added, “Was it not stronger after he passed away?” referencing how ideas can grow independent of their founders.
“DOGE is kind of a way of life … we make converts all the time.”
DOGE, Musk noted, is “a way of life” that continues to attract new supporters. “We make converts all the time,” he told reporters during Trump’s 100th day celebration.
Musk plans to remain a part-time adviser to DOGE after may departure
Musk’s official role as a government employee ends on May 30, but he plans to informally advise DOGE beyond that point. His commitment will scale back significantly.
“I’m willing to contribute on average, one to two days a week, which, you know, probably means coming to DC every other week for three days, type of thing. As indefinitely, as long as the president wants me to do it,” Musk said.
“Obviously, if the president or the cabinet has an emergency that they want me to respond to, then I’ll do that. But otherwise, it’s just, I think it’s pretty manageable with one to two days on average.” He added.
DOGE Will Persist Without Musk, Supported by Volunteer Members
Despite his scaled-back involvement, Musk insisted DOGE’s momentum will continue. He confirmed around 100 staffers still support the budget-cutting initiative.
“Everybody’s not leaving,” Musk clarified. “Some will stay on, some won’t. It’s up to them. This is a volunteer organization.”
His confidence in DOGE’s future suggests the structure can endure leadership changes while maintaining its mission.
Tesla moves to replace Elon Musk as CEO amid shareholder pressure
Meanwhile, Musk faces turbulence at Tesla. The company has launched a search for a new CEO, reportedly pushed by the board due to plummeting stock and political distractions.
The move followed a sharp drop in Tesla’s first-quarter profits — down 71% year-over-year — and backlash over Musk’s political involvement during his time with the Trump administration.
Investors grew increasingly vocal, calling on Musk to return full-time to Tesla. The board asked him to publicly declare his exit from DOGE or risk his CEO position.
Musk complied, stating he would soon devote “far more of my time to Tesla.”
Tesla’s stock price has fallen nearly 40% since January, coinciding with Musk’s frequent presence in Washington as head of DOGE. The decline triggered mounting concern.
While earnings have slightly stabilized post-report, investor confidence remains shaky. Many blame Musk’s political distractions for Tesla’s struggles.
During the Q1 earnings call, a shareholder directly asked if Musk would “reprioritize engineering over politics.”
Musk responded, “Starting next month, my DOGE time will drop significantly.” He said he’ll still help occasionally, but Tesla will become his main focus again.
Musk admits politics have hurt Tesla, but blames broader economy too
Musk acknowledged that his political ventures, especially his work with Trump, may have hurt Tesla’s brand and stock performance. Still, he pointed to macroeconomic pressures.
Despite this, Musk believes Tesla will recover. His promise to reallocate his time may help calm anxious investors and stabilize the EV company’s future outlook.