Quick Hit:

A group of 77 House Democrats is mounting a campaign to force Elon Musk out of his role in the Trump administration by the end of May. Citing a statutory limit on service by special government employees, the lawmakers are demanding Musk resign and relinquish authority over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

Key Details:

• Democrats say Musk must resign by May 30, citing a 130-day service cap for special government employees.

• The letter to President Trump demands Musk give up decision-making authority or face legal and political consequences.

• Democrats warn Musk can’t return to government service for a year unless he divests from Tesla, SpaceX, and other holdings.

Diving Deeper:

The move to oust Musk is being led by Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who is framing the effort as the beginning of a broader campaign. In a statement to Axios, Casar said, “We’re making it very clear that the public pressure is only going to ramp up on Republicans between here and May 30.” The campaign not only relies on legal technicalities but seeks to rally political pressure and media attention to isolate Musk from his advisory role in the Trump administration.

At the center of the dispute is Musk’s position at the helm of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency—a body formed by 47th President Donald Trump to cut waste and bureaucracy across federal agencies. Democrats claim Musk's continued service violates a law restricting special government employees to 130 days of active duty, and that he must resign or trigger a year-long prohibition on reentry unless he divests from his corporate interests.

The Trump administration, however, may lean on a memo from the Biden-era Office of Government Ethics stating that unpaid travel days do not count toward the 130-day cap. That interpretation could provide legal cover for Musk’s ongoing role, especially if the administration classifies his engagements accordingly.

Still, Democrats show no sign of backing off. The letter from 77 House members urges the Trump administration to make a public commitment to Musk’s departure, stating unequivocally that he “will resign and surrender all decision-making authority, as required by law, by May 30th.”

The opposition appears to be rooted in more than statutory interpretation. Progressive lawmakers have grown increasingly vocal in their opposition to Musk’s influence in federal decision-making, particularly given his outspoken support for President Trump and his recent efforts to reshape government operations through private-sector style leadership. The Democratic demand that Musk divest from Tesla and SpaceX if he wishes to return to federal service underscores their concern about the perceived merger of public authority and private enterprise.

Musk, for his part, has not publicly commented on the effort, and the White House has not issued a formal response. But with tensions rising and the May 30 deadline looming, this confrontation could define yet another fault line between the Trump administration’s unconventional style and a Democrat-led House seeking to reassert traditional regulatory and ethical norms.