• Elon Musk departs from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after a tumultuous four-month tenure.
• President Trump praised Musk’s contributions, asserting a significant change in government operations.
• Musk received a ceremonial golden key as a farewell gift from Trump during a press conference.
• The DOGE initiative faced criticism for falling short of its ambitious budget-cutting goals.
• Musk's ongoing advisory role and close ties to Trump indicate he may remain influential in administration discussions.

US President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office, marking the conclusion of Musk's controversial tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk is set to refocus on his businesses, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X. During the event, Trump praised Musk's "incredible service," crediting him with "a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington," while asserting that some members of Musk's team would remain in government roles, according to Indiatimes, Channel News Asia, and Africanews.

Trump's praises were accompanied by a ceremonial golden key presented to Musk as recognition of his efforts. "I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job," Musk stated while wearing a T-shirt that read "The Dogefather." His leadership has seen drastic cuts to federal programs, including significant reductions to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which have raised humanitarian concerns, according to reports from Indiatimes and TRT Global.

Despite promising to reduce federal spending by up to $2 trillion, Musk's actual savings are estimated at around $175 billion, a figure criticized for its lack of transparency and accuracy. Reports indicate that only about $19 billion in actual savings have been realized so far, falling far short of his initial targets, according to New York Times, Reuters, and Los Angeles Times.

During the farewell press conference, both Musk and Trump sought to display unity, despite increasing reports of tension between Musk and Trump's cabinet. Musk's admission of the need for a temporary role and his acknowledgment of having "spent too much time" on politics indicate a shifting focus back to his companies. He assured reporters that he would continue as an advisor to Trump, reiterating, "This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning," according to New York Times and Al Jazeera.