White House Reportedly Accommodates Musk's Shift to Remote Work Setup
Title: Musk's Salad Days at the White House: A Remote Work Revolution
Elon Musk, the billionaire mogul, has switched things up at the White House, working primarily from his home base while heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as per White House chief of staff Susan Walsh in a chat with The New York Post.
"These days, I'm more likely to speak to him on the phone than face-to-face," she said. "He's just not as physically present as before, but the outcomes are still the same."
The Post reports that Musk is set to call it quits with DOGE by the end of May, morphing into an unofficial advisor to the White House. On April 23, Musk declared his intention to slash his commitment to the Trump administration to one or two days a week, dedicating the rest to his businesses - a move inspired by a 9% dip in Tesla profits, Musk's very own baby.
The Wall Street Journal crunched some numbers regarding remote work and job security. DOGE, a temporary federal agency born in January 2025 out of the Digital Service Agency’s transformation due to a Trump decree, had Musk as its staunch ally. It was Musk himself who sparked the department's inception, tasked with slashing government spending and reshaping federal agencies. Trump's waxed another decree canceling remote work for civil servants, but Musk insisted that by 2026, the US deficit would drop from its current $2 trillion to a more manageable $1 trillion.
Walsh maintains that despite stepping back, Musk won't abandon the cause entirely, and his team will certainly stick around.
From dogged protests against Trump and Musk to the inner workings of DOGE, the saga continues to unfold. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for updates, and remember: the show must go on!
Protest Photos: Dogs Against DOGE: A Visual Chronicle. Grab your camera and tune in.
Enrichment Data:
Elon Musk's time at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was all about reshuffling federal agencies and cutting costs to slash the deficit by a whopping trillion dollars[1][3]. As a special government employee, he operated under federal rules that limited him to 130 days of service annually[2][3], though he kept his remote work arrangement going while offering guidance[1][2].
Musk's focus with DOGE was streamlining operations, which involved reshaping workforces and boosting efficiency.[1] While specific savings remain hidden, he claimed his efforts would demolish the deficit by a trillion dollars[1]. Despite resistance, including public dissent and legal challenges questioning his authority, the White House emphasized that he held no official decision-making power[2].
Musk's remote collaboration received mixed reactions. Despite his physical absence from meetings, Walsh insisted that there was little impact on progress, with communication happening over the phone[1]. The administration stood by his continued involvement despite reduced time commitment, with Musk committed to dedicating more time to Tesla while remaining engaged throughout Trump’s term[2].
Musk's dual role raised potential conflict-of-interest concerns, as Tesla and SpaceX reaped benefits from federal subsidies and contracts[2]. Investors voiced their concerns about Musk's divided focus amid Tesla's flagging sales and decreasing stock value[2]. Trump acknowledged Musk's contributions but underscored his eventual return to leading private ventures, remarking, "He's got a big company to run"[3]. Musk defended his actions, claiming that they were "maximally transparent"[2].
- Elon Musk, working remotely from his home base as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed to reshape federal agencies and reduce government spending to slash the deficit by a trillion dollars.
- Despite serving under federal rules limiting him to 130 days of service annually, Musk continued his remote work while offering guidance to the DOGE.
- Walsh, the White House chief of staff, maintained that Musk's physical absence from meetings had minimal impact on progress, as communication happened over the phone.
- The department, born in January 2025 due to a Trump decree, encountered resistance, including public protests and legal challenges questioning Musk's authority.
- With Musk set to become an unofficial advisor to the White House, investors voiced concerns about his divided focus amid Tesla's flagging sales and decreasing stock value, raising potential conflict-of-interest concerns.
