White House officials confirmed on Thursday that billionaire Elon Musk and several other staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and special government officials are leaving for Fox News.
Musk has been leading Doge since President Donald Trump took office in January. The sector was tasked with cutting $2 trillion from the federal government’s budget through efforts to significantly reduce spending, government programs and federal workforce.
Musk announced his departure from Doge late Wednesday.
“As my scheduled time as a special government employee is coming to an end, I would like to thank President @RealdonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk said in X.
Less than half of the Doge-Terminated contracts are publicly available, and only about a quarter of the grant: WatchDog
Former President Donald Trump left as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to leave after speaking at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5, 2024.
Along with Musk, adviser Steve Davis, adviser and spokesman Katie Miller and attorney James Burnham are leaving their posts at Doge, a White House spokesman who has been confirmed to Fox News.
With Musk’s departure, White House spokesperson Caroline Lewitt told reporters at a briefing Thursday that Trump and his cabinet members are now leading the Doge efforts.
The White House reveals who will lead Doge’s efforts after Mask’s departure
Elon Musk, Senior White House Advisor, walks to the White House after landing Marines on the South Lawn of Washington, DC on March 9 (Samuel Colm/Getty Images)
“The Doge leaders are all members of the President’s Cabinet and the President himself, and are sincerely committed to reducing waste, fraud and abuse from our government,” Leavitt said.
“The entire Cabinet understands the need to reduce government waste, fraud and abuse,” she continued. “And each Cabinet Secretary of each agency is committed to that. So they worked in partnership with Elon Musk, and they will continue to work with their respective Doge employees, who are onboard as all political appointees of these agencies.
“Therefore, Doge’s mission certainly continues, and many Doge employees are now government political appointees and employees.”
What will be next for Doge after Elon Musk’s departure? “Just starting”
Congress’ Doge Caucus now has over 100 members and Elon Musk. (House/Getty)
According to a website update on Doge’s website, Doge was tasked with cutting $2 trillion from its budget, but its efforts have led to approximately $175 billion in savings through asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud reductions and other ways to eliminate costs.
Savings translate to around $1,087 per taxpayer savings, the website notes.
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A senior White House official told Fox News Digital previously that Doge is currently part of the federal government’s “DNA” and will continue to operate as it is under Musk.
Andrew Mark Murray and Diana Stancy of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to greg.wehner @fox.com and Twitter @gregwehner.
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