From PBS NewsHour.

Elon Musk said Friday that his departure as a special government employee "is not the end of DOGE but really the beginning."

Likening the Trump initiative aimed at slashing the government to Buddhism or a way of life, Musk said the Department of Government Efficiency would only continue to grow.

"I’m confident that over time we will see $1 trillion of savings and reduction in $1 trillion of waste and fraud reduction," Musk said at a news conference Friday with President Donald Trump. "I look forward to continuing to be a friend and adviser to the president, continuing to support the DOGE team."

As a special government employee, Musk could only work for an allotted number of days. He announced that he was leaving his role as White House adviser earlier in the week.

During his turbulent tenure, Musk initiated thousands firings and major spending cuts at various federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education, and dismantled the United States Agency for International Development. Among the many lawsuits that have been filed, a judge ruled Tuesday that states can move forward with a case alleging that Musk and DOGE have illegally wielded power.

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