The White House is thanking Elon Musk for his federal workforce-slashing efforts but also insisting that the work to shrink the size of government will continue without him.
“We thank him for his service,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “We thank him for getting DOGE off of the ground. And the effort to cut waste, fraud and abuse will continue.”
Leavitt says many of Musk’s staffers have become political appointees across the government and that “surely the mission of DOGE will continue.” Trump, though, is not naming a new head of the initiative.
“The DOGE leaders are each and every member of the president’s cabinet and the president himself, who is wholeheartedly committed to cutting waste, fraud and abuse for our government,” Leavitt says.
Asked about Musk questioning whether a White House-backed proposal approved by the House would really reduce federal deficits, Leavitt insisted that the bill would ultimately save taxpayers money.
“The president is very proud of the one big beautiful bill and he wants to see it pass,” she said.