Politico reports that non-governmental advisor Elon Musk is expected to step back from his public-facing duties in President Donald Trump's White House, despite Trump remaining "pleased" with Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
- Politico notes: "The transition, the insiders said, is likely to correspond to the end of Musk’s time as a “special government employee,” a special status that temporarily exempts him from some ethics and conflict-of-interest rules. That 130-day period is expected to expire in late May or early June."
- Should Musk's departure come ahead of the 130-day period it could be seen as the Trump administration managing political exposure to Musk's sliding approval rating. A new Marquette Law School survey found: "Approval of how Elon Musk is handling his work in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) stands at 41%, with disapproval at 58%. Musk’s personal favorability is 38%, with 60% unfavorable."
- The report doesn't offer much new information but appears to counter some reporting suggesting that Trump would look to extend Musk's temporary 130-day cap.
- Trump told reporters at the White House this week that his Cabinet secretaries have “gotten a big education” from their experience with DOGE. Trump added: “There will be a point at which the secretaries will be able to do this work [without Musk],” indicating that work to cut the federal workforce will continue.
- Notably, the report comes after a Republican underperformance in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race that was seen as a referendum on Musk's role in the Trump administration.