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Elon Musk is planning to become a Republican megadonor in the upcoming midterm election as he scales back his role in President Donald Trump's administration, Reuters reported, citing several people with "direct" knowledge on the matter. Musk said during a Tesla earnings call last week that he would be allocating more time to the company starting next month. He added that the "major work" of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was done, but he will spend a day or two a week on government matters "as long as it is useful."
Why It Matters Musk, the world's richest person, was appointed by Trump to lead DOGE. While Musk is cutting back his role at the department, the sources told Reuters that they expect Musk to remain influential as a political advisor to Trump. Elon Musk speaks during a town hall Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. Elon Musk speaks during a town hall Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps They also said he is expected to invest in Republican candidates in next year's midterms.
The news comes after Musk and his affiliated groups invested millions into a Wisconsin Supreme Court election held earlier this month. The candidate Musk backed, Brad Schimel, was defeated by liberal candidate Susan Crawford. A survey from the Democratic polling firm Blueprint, shared with The Washington Post, found that 30 percent of voters said Musk's investment made them less likely to support Schimel.
What To Know Musk was considered a special government employee, meaning he could only serve for 130 days. That period will conclude at the end of May. "How Elon exits matters," a source told Reuters.
"The priority is keeping him close — without turning a major ally into a liability heading into 2026." Musk was the largest election-cycle donor last year, giving more than $250 million to Trump and other Republicans. What People Are Saying Brandon Scholz, a former executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party who is now an independent, in comments to Reuters: "If I were the Republicans, I would hope he puts money into races but stays out of the limelight."
Democratic pollster Evan Roth Smith, analyzing the poll for The Washington Post: "The verdict from the race appears clear: The closer Musk is to an election's central narrative, the worse Republicans do. And while the president might seek to distance himself from Musk in the coming weeks and months, the impression that Musk is currently a central figure of the Republican Party seems indelible." What Happens Next The executive order establishing DOGE states that the department's work will conclude by July 4, 2026.
Around 100 DOGE employees are expected to continue their work in government after Musk steps back, according to The Wall Street Journal. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story?
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