Elon Musk says he’ll step back from DOGE starting in May

The Verge - Apr 22nd, 2025
Open on The Verge

Elon Musk has announced his intention to reduce his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) starting in May, as he plans to dedicate more time to Tesla amid the company's sales challenges. During a Tesla earnings call, Musk mentioned that he would continue to spend a day or two each week on DOGE matters, but his primary focus would shift to his electric car company. Musk's decision comes as his dual role has been under scrutiny, with Tesla investors urging him to concentrate on overcoming the company's current sales slump. His influence with the Trump administration also appears to be decreasing as he approaches the 130-day limit for his advisory role.

The move to step back from DOGE comes at a critical time for Tesla, which is navigating through a major sales downturn. Musk's role as a special advisor to the White House had been controversial, with some questioning the effectiveness and necessity of his governmental involvement. The decision to redirect his efforts towards Tesla may indicate a strategic pivot to address investor concerns and stabilize the company's performance. Additionally, Musk's limited time in his advisory capacity suggests a diminishing influence within the Trump administration, adding a layer of complexity to his multifaceted business and advisory roles.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

4.8
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The news story about Elon Musk's decision to reduce his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and focus more on Tesla presents a timely topic with significant public interest. While the article provides a clear and straightforward narrative, it lacks depth in terms of source quality, transparency, and balance. The absence of specific sources and detailed context limits the story's credibility and comprehensiveness. Additionally, the story's focus on Tesla's sales slump and investor concerns could benefit from a broader exploration of the implications for DOGE and government advisory roles. Overall, the story captures a relevant issue but would benefit from more thorough reporting and diverse perspectives to enhance its accuracy and impact.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story contains several factual claims that align with verified information, such as Elon Musk's intention to reduce his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and focus more on Tesla. However, the story inaccurately presents Musk as the 'head' of DOGE, which is misleading since he is an advisor, not the leader of a formal department. Additionally, the claim about Musk's influence waning is supported by reports, but the story lacks direct evidence or citation for this assertion. The mention of Tesla's sales slump is accurate, aligning with reported financial challenges. Overall, while the story includes several verifiable facts, it also contains inaccuracies and lacks precision in some areas.

5
Balance

The story primarily focuses on Elon Musk's decisions and their impact on Tesla and DOGE, providing limited perspectives. It highlights investor concerns and Musk's controversial role but lacks viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as government officials or DOGE employees. The narrative leans towards the implications for Tesla, potentially omitting the broader context of Musk's advisory role and its significance. This lack of balance might skew reader perception by not fully representing the range of opinions and implications of Musk's decision.

6
Clarity

The article is relatively clear in its language and structure, presenting a straightforward narrative about Musk's decision to step back from DOGE. However, the lack of precise definitions, such as the nature of DOGE and Musk's exact role, can lead to confusion. The story's tone is neutral, but the absence of detailed explanations about key terms and roles might hinder full comprehension for readers unfamiliar with the context. Improving the clarity of these elements would enhance the overall understanding of the story.

4
Source quality

The article does not attribute its information to specific sources, reducing its credibility. While it references a Tesla earnings call, it does not provide direct quotes or evidence from this event. The absence of named sources or citations makes it difficult to assess the reliability of the information presented. Without clear attribution, the story's authority is questionable, and readers cannot easily verify the claims made.

3
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its reporting, as it does not disclose the sources of its information or the methodology behind its claims. There is no explanation of how the information was obtained or any potential conflicts of interest. This lack of transparency makes it challenging for readers to understand the basis of the claims or assess the impartiality of the reporting. Providing more context and clarity about the sources and methods used would enhance the story's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/22/elon-musk-says-he-may-keep-doing-doge-work-for-the-remainder-of-trumps-term/
  2. https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-confirms-time-spent-with-doge-will-drop-significantly/
  3. https://opentools.ai/news/elon-musk-takes-a-backseat-doge-initiative-and-teslas-future
  4. https://economictimes.com/news/international/us/elon-musk-may-abruptly-quit-doge-after-donald-trumps-private-doubts-claim-reports-tesla-stock-soars-as-investors-cheer-shock-exit/articleshow/119913324.cms
  5. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-earnings-call-today-elon-musk-doge/