Elon Musk's right-hand man Steve Davis exits DOGE day after billionaire's departure
Steve Davis
,
Elon Musk
's longtime lieutenant and key operational leader at the
Department of Government Efficiency
(
DOGE
), has left his government role, the White House confirmed Thursday. Davis's departure follows Musk's own exit from the
Trump administration
this week, marking the end of the billionaire's direct involvement in federal cost-cutting efforts.
Davis had been handling day-to-day operations at DOGE, including hirings and firings, according to current and former staffers. The 45-year-old aerospace engineer has worked with Musk for over two decades across multiple ventures, including
SpaceX
,
Tesla
, the
Boring Company
, and X (formerly Twitter). He was widely considered Musk's "right-hand man" and held more operational power at DOGE than its official administrator.
Elon Musk 'unhappy' with Trump administration
Musk confirmed his departure from government service Wednesday night, citing frustrations with Washington's bureaucratic obstacles. The world's richest man, who spent heavily supporting Trump's 2024 campaign, told reporters he "probably did spend a bit too much time on politics" and was disappointed by Congress's recent spending bill, which he said "undermines" DOGE's mission.
The billionaire's exit came after mounting tensions within the administration. Musk publicly criticized Trump's signature domestic policy legislation for increasing the deficit, complained about AI deals involving rival companies, and has yet to deliver on a promised $100 million pledge to Trump's political operation for the 2026 midterms.
DOGE claimed to have saved $175 billion in taxpayer money, though critics questioned these figures. Musk acknowledged that cutting federal spending proved "far more difficult" than expected, requiring more "political will" than Congress appeared willing to provide.
Musk and Davis have been partners for twenty-years
Davis has worked alongside Musk for over two decades, starting at SpaceX in 2003 when the company was still in its infancy. The Stanford-educated aerospace engineer earned Musk's trust through relentless work and cost-cutting prowess, once finding a $3,900 alternative to a $120,000 rocket part. Musk has compared Davis to "chemotherapy" – essential but potentially toxic in large doses.
Throughout Musk's various ventures, Davis has served as the operational enforcer, slashing costs and eliminating redundancies at the Boring Company, X (formerly Twitter), and most recently at DOGE. His reputation as a demanding boss who sets tight deadlines and works around the clock made him an ideal choice to implement the sweeping
government reforms
Musk envisioned.
Davis currently serves as president of the Boring Company and did not immediately respond to requests for comment about his departure from DOGE. His exit marks another significant blow to the agency's mission as it loses both its visionary leader and operational commander within 24 hours.
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