White House officials have said that DOGE’s efforts will continue after Musk leaves, and that he would likely continue to advise the President. "Elon is really not leaving. He’s going to be back and forth, I have a feeling," Trump said Friday. "It’s his baby.”

Musk said he had "done enough" and that he will step away from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the inner-government group that has slashed federal budgets and workforces. As he prepared his goodbyes, Newsweek looked back at Musk's time in government and asked experts on whether he will have a lasting impact.