In response to Elon Musk exiting the Trump administration, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“It was clear to the American people that something was seriously off with Elon Musk from the moment he stepped foot into the White House — and yet Donald Trump gave him access to Americans’ Social Security data. This afternoon, Trump will stand side-by-side with the man who tried to dismantle Social Security, gave an inept group of kids access to our private data, and was apparently on a drug-fueled bender while he looted the government. While America’s kids and seniors suffered, Musk was enriching himself on the taxpayers’ dime with billions in federal contracts. Trump should be launching an investigation into Musk, not throwing a goodbye party.” 

NEW: Donald Trump’s shadow president Elon Musk is leaving Washington amid alarming allegations of serious drug abuse and after gutting programs millions of Americans rely on. 

New York Times: “A Disillusioned Musk, Distanced From Trump, Says He’s Exiting Washington”

New York Times: “As Elon Musk became one of Donald J. Trump’s closest allies last year, leading raucous rallies and donating about $275 million to help him win the presidency, he was also using drugs far more intensely than previously known, according to people familiar with his activities. …

“[H]e has exhibited erratic behavior, insulting cabinet members, gesturing like a Nazi and garbling his answers in a staged interview.”

Wall Street Journal: “The Trump administration has started cutting tens of thousands of jobs through a plan encouraged by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency …

“In interviews, more than 60 current and former federal workers said the wide slashing has worsened services Americans receive and hindered remaining staff working on areas like improving healthcare and lowering energy bills. It also has discouraged top talent from working for the federal government.” 

New York Times: “A new DOGE tally claims that erasing rules on credit card fees, appliance standards and health insurance ‘saves the American people’ money. Data show the opposite.”

REMINDER: Musk took a “wrecking ball” to the Social Security Administration, threatening hard-earned benefits for millions of Americans amid a 50-year low on staffing.

New York Times: “‘Just a Mess’: Staff Cuts, Rushed Changes and Anxiety at Social Security”

Axios: “DOGE is taking its wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration, the agency responsible for overseeing retirement and disability benefits for 73 million Americans. …

“The agency announced last month it seeks to cut about 7,000 employees, or 12% of staff, through voluntary resignations and a reduction-in-force plan due Thursday.”

Washington Post: “Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down”

“The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk.”

After Musk funneled millions into Trump’s campaign, he was rewarded with billions in federal contracts and his net worth skyrocketed. 

Daily Mail: “The federal government awarded Elon Musk’s company a $38.85 million contract on Monday as the billionaire works to slash other contracts.”

New York Times: “Mr. Musk’s companies secured $13 billion in contracts over the past five years, making SpaceX, which collects most of that money, one of the biggest government contractors. There is already talk during the Trump administration of expanding these deals, particularly at the Air Force.”

Benzinga: “By mid-December, Musk’s fortune had jumped from $262 billion before the election to a peak of $486 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, fueled by a massive surge in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock.”

Washington Post: “Less than two weeks after President Donald Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on goods from the tiny African nation of Lesotho, the country’s communications regulator held a meeting with representatives of Starlink. …

“A series of internal government messages obtained by The Post reveal how U.S. embassies and the State Department have pushed nations to clear hurdles for U.S. satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name.”