Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, stated he may continue his controversial involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) throughout the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term. The announcement follows growing criticism over his political engagement and its negative impact on Tesla’s financial performance.

Speaking during Tesla’s Q1 2025 earnings call, Musk said he plans to reduce his DOGE involvement to “a day or two per week” beginning next month. However, he added that he will remain active “as long as the President would like me to do so, and as long as it is useful.”

Musk’s continued government work comes as Tesla’s Q1 earnings report revealed a staggering 71% drop in profit year-over-year. The company cited “political sentiment,” increased global competition, and repercussions from Trump-era tariffs as key factors behind the decline. Wall Street analysts have issued warnings, with one top investor calling the situation “code red” if Musk does not step back from his political activities.

The DOGE initiative, created to overhaul federal agencies, has been a lightning rod for controversy. Musk’s aggressive rhetoric—likening bureaucracies to “wood chippers”—has sparked global protests and calls for boycotts against Tesla. Despite the backlash, Musk claimed during the call that many of the protests are “paid for” by “recipients of waste,” offering no evidence to support these allegations.

Although Musk referred to the “major work of establishing DOGE” as mostly complete, he remains a “special government employee,” a designation that legally limits federal service to 130 days annually. The White House has not issued a response regarding Musk’s continued involvement.

As the 2025 political climate intensifies, Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration, coupled with Tesla’s declining profits, is placing both his public image and his company’s performance under increasing scrutiny.