Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to reduce his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to a few days per week, citing the completion of major work in the organization. This decision comes amid growing criticism and protests against Musk’s dual roles as a tech leader and government advisor. Musk stated he will continue this reduced role for as long as it remains useful and President Trump desires his participation.
During Tesla’s quarterly earnings call, Musk addressed concerns that his political involvement is affecting Tesla’s sales. The company admitted in a shareholder letter that political sentiment has harmed its sales performance. Additional factors, such as increased competition and tariffs, have contributed to a 71% drop in profit compared to the previous year’s first quarter.
Wall Street analysts have warned that Musk’s government work could jeopardize Tesla’s success. Musk defended himself by suggesting that protests against him are funded and baseless, though he provided no evidence to support these claims.
As a special government employee, Musk is technically limited to 130 days of government work within a 365-day period. Despite this, his exact involvement remains unclear. The White House has yet to comment on Musk’s continued participation in DOGE.
— new from TechCrunch