The White House is reportedly undertaking a sweeping effort to diminish Elon Musk’s lingering influence within the federal agency once helmed by the billionaire entrepreneur. This initiative comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s recent appointment of Mike Rigas as the new leader of the General Services Administration (GSA), a move seen as a clear pivot away from Musk-aligned leadership.
Rigas, a seasoned Trump administration veteran, has been placed above Stephen Ehikian, a tech entrepreneur closely associated with Musk, who had been serving as acting administrator. The reshuffle is reportedly part of a broader strategy to reassert control over the GSA—home to the now-controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—and to reestablish a more traditional Trump-era institutional presence.
According to Politico, Musk had exerted significant influence over the GSA during his nearly five-month tenure as head of DOGE, installing a series of unconventional appointees. These included fellow tech entrepreneurs and Gen Z programmers, many of whom had little or no prior government experience. His leadership, though short, left a strong imprint on the agency’s structure and culture.
In recent days, the White House has deployed nine officials from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to the GSA. The goal: to dilute the remaining influence of Musk-affiliated staff, including Ehikian, Josh Gruenbaum, and Thomas Shedd.
Most of the new appointees have ties to Trump’s first term, rather than to Elon Musk’s network. The OMB additions include Stephen Billy and David LaCerte—both contributors to the conservative Project 2025—along with Doug Hoelscher, former director of intergovernmental affairs, and ex-BlackRock analyst Kevin Hennecken.
One source close to DOGE told Politico, “DOGE has lost all remaining influence” following the appointment of Rigas. It remains uncertain whether Ehikian will continue in his role.
While neither the White House nor the GSA has officially commented on the personnel changes, a GSA spokesperson told Politico: “All parties involved after the President’s appointment of Mike Rigas as Acting Administrator are working collaboratively to ensure GSA continues delivering the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people.”
Musk ended his official role as a special government employee in late May, stating, “I’ll continue to be visiting here and be a friend and adviser to the president.” However, their relationship quickly soured, escalating into a public feud marked by personal accusations and sharp political disagreements.
Since then, DOGE has faced mounting challenges, including staff departures, legal hurdles, and increasing bureaucratic resistance—marking a rapid decline in Musk’s once-prominent role in the agency.