President Donald Trump bade farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday, telling reporters that the Department of Government Efficiency’s work would continue even after the end of Musk’s service as a special government employee.
“Elon has worked tirelessly, helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations,” Trump said.
Trump also suggested that the work of DOGE would continue.
“The numbers that we’re talking about are substantial, but they’re going to be very much more substantial with time,” he said. “The numbers could double and triple.”
Trump also said that Congress would work with the White House to update the federal government’s computer systems.
Additionally, he said that Congress would work to formally codify DOGE’s spending cuts into law.
The White House has not yet formally sent Congress a rescissions package to do so, which would allow for the cancellation of discretionary spending through a simple majority vote in both houses.
“We’re totally committed to making the DOGE cuts permanent … . Most of it’s going to come later. We’re going to have it [codified] by Congress,” Trump said.
Musk thanked Trump for his support throughout the industrialist’s time in government and told reporters that DOGE’s work would continue.
“This is not the end of DOGE,” he said. “The DOGE influence will only grow stronger … I’m confident that over time, we’ll see … $1 trillion of waste and fraud reduction.”
Asked what he expected his future relationship with Trump would be, Musk told reporters that he expected to remain in communication with the president.
“I expect to continue to provide advice, whatever the president would like,” Musk said.
Trump quipped in response, “I hope so!”
Musk concluded, “I expect to remain a friend and an adviser, and certainly if there’s anything the president wants me to do, I’m at the president’s service.”