Elon Musk is no longer working in-person at the White House, and his cost-cutting DOGE initiative appears to be winding down.

Musk had been at the center of political controversy during President Trump's first 100 days back in the Oval Office, with critics piling on Musk's historic campaign to slash "waste, fraud, and abuse" in the federal government.

Musk pulls back

The Tesla CEO's departure has been expected, with his role as a special government employee set to expire in May.

Musk joined President Trump at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where Musk, wearing two Trump hats, touted DOGE's work. 

"The American people voted for secure borders, safe cities and sensible spending," Musk said. "And that's what they've gotten. Tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first hundred days. As everyone has said, it's more than has been accomplished in any administration before. Ever. Period. So, this portends very well for what happens for the rest of the administration. I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country."

After years of empty promises from politicians to trim the federal bureaucracy, many have praised DOGE's aggressive reforms as long overdue.  Democratic critics have painted Musk as a shadowy co-president, seizing on his role to accuse Trump of empowering an "oligarchy" for the rich.

The cost

In fact, Musk's government work has cost him. Shares in his electric car company Tesla have dropped, even as politically motivated vandals have waged a campaign of terror against his business. According to Bloomberg, the world's richest man has lost a quarter of his fortune since joining the White House.

President Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, told the New York Post that Musk is working remotely, although she downplayed the impact of the change.

“Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect,” Wiles said, adding "his folks aren’t going anywhere."

Trump's offer

Trump maintains a close friendship with Musk, and the president offered a reminder of his warm feelings during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting.

"You have been treated unfairly," Trump said. "But, the vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you. And this whole room can say that very strongly. It's really been a tremendous help. You opened up a lot of eyes as to what could be done. And we just want to thank you very much."

Indeed, Trump offered to let Musk stay "as long as you want." But on a call with investors last week, Musk signaled an imminent return to the private sector after three bruising months in the political arena.

"Starting probably next month, May, my time obligation to DOGE will drop significantly," Musk said on the call.

"I think I'll continue to spend a day or two per week on government matters for as long as the president would like me to do so, and for as long as it is useful, but starting next month, I'll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla, now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done," he said.

While DOGE will certainly operate differently without its energetic public face, the Trump administration has signaled its work isn't done.