Elon Musk’s brief but disruptive stint at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially ended, but his sweeping reforms will continue to shape U.S. foreign policy operations long after his departure.
A senior State Department official confirmed Thursday that the overhaul Musk led, including the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), widespread staff reductions, and the cancellation of several foreign aid initiatives, will remain intact. The reforms, pitched as efforts to eliminate redundancy and inefficiency, were among the most aggressive changes the department has seen in decades.
Musk’s 130-day tenure as a “special government employee” ended this week. The billionaire entrepreneur announced his exit from DOGE on Wednesday night via a post on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
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His influence, however, is far from over.
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On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a follow-up reorganization blueprint that builds directly on Musk’s agenda. The plan will slash or merge more than 300 of the State Department’s 700 offices and bureaus, nearly half of the agency’s operational arms.
“We have too many godd— offices,” a senior official told Fox News. “We’re trying to shrink offices rather than create them.”
The reorganization was formally submitted to Congress, with officials billing it as the most significant structural shake-up since the Cold War.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the enduring nature of DOGE’s influence.
READ ALSO: DOGE: Elon Musk begins exit from Trump-era government efficiency role
“Surely the mission of Doge will continue,” Leavitt said. “Many Doge employees are now political employees.”
Meanwhile, Jeremy Lewin, a close associate of Musk’s during his DOGE tenure, has been quietly positioned into a senior role at the State Department. Although installed earlier this spring, Lewin insists he was never directly involved in Musk’s DOGE operations.
READ ALSO: Bill Gates raises alarm over risks from Elon Musk’s DOGE-related budget cuts
