WASHINGTON — Elon Musk has formally ended his role as a top advisor in the administration of President Donald Trump, announcing his departure just one day after publicly criticizing the president’s signature budget proposal, a sweeping legislative package that Trump has lauded as his “big beautiful bill.”
Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, served as a Special Government Employee tasked with spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a White House initiative aimed at reducing wasteful federal spending. Musk confirmed his resignation in a post on X, the social media platform he owns, writing, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Musk’s departure and praised his contributions.
The resignation came just hours after Musk voiced strong criticism of Trump’s legislative centerpiece in an interview with CBS News, calling the bill—a combination of tax cuts and immigration enforcement—“a massive spending bill” that undermines the very efficiency goals DOGE was created to pursue.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful,” Musk said, “but I don’t know if it can be both.”
According to Musk, the proposed legislation would balloon the federal deficit while ignoring the foundational mission of DOGE. “It increases government spending at a time when we were just beginning to rein in the bureaucracy,” he said.
President Trump, speaking Wednesday from the Oval Office, acknowledged the complexities of the legislation, stating, “I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it… We’re going to see what happens. It’s got a way to go.”
Despite Musk’s disapproval, House Republicans narrowly passed the bill, which is now under Senate consideration. While Trump seeks to maintain momentum behind the legislation, Musk’s remarks appear to have resonated with certain GOP senators pushing for deeper spending cuts.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., expressed sympathy for Musk’s disappointment during a public appearance at the Milwaukee Press Club, saying he was “pretty confident” the bill would be delayed until lawmakers got serious about spending reductions.
“There’s no amount of pressure the president can apply to make me change my position,” Johnson said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson thanked Musk for his service and vowed to continue supporting DOGE’s efforts. “The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings,” he said.
The White House has already submitted proposed rescissions to Congress to align with some of DOGE’s recommended cuts, including $1.1 billion in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $8.3 billion in foreign aid. An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson said these steps would solidify some of DOGE’s initiatives, despite Musk’s exit.
Musk’s departure also marks a turning point in his relationship with politics. Once highly engaged in government reform, Musk now plans to refocus on his private ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. He also signaled a retreat from political giving, saying, “I think I’ve done enough.”
Reflecting on his time in Washington, Musk told The Washington Post that the scale of federal inefficiency far exceeded his expectations. “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized. It’s an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”
Despite setbacks, Musk once viewed the opportunity to lead DOGE as a mission to “save America from fiscal collapse.” He routinely donned MAGA hats, attended Trump rallies, and was once quoted saying, “The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy… Frankly, I love him.”
Trump returned the admiration, praising Musk as “a truly great American.” At one point, during a slump in Tesla sales, the White House even transformed its driveway into a temporary showroom to promote the automaker.
Musk’s criticism of Trump’s budget bill has already begun to influence Republican discourse. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, reposted a Fox News article on Musk’s remarks, adding that the Senate version of the bill “must be more aggressive” or risk failure. “It can, it must, and it will be. Or it won’t pass,” Lee said.
Two GOP lawmakers in the House—Reps. Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Thomas Massie (Kentucky)—voted against the bill. Davidson applauded Musk’s stance on social media, writing, “Hopefully, the Senate will succeed with the Big Beautiful Bill where the House missed the moment.”
The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the bill’s tax provisions would add $3.8 trillion to the deficit over 10 years, while reductions in welfare programs would save just over $1 trillion. Although House Republican leaders claim the bill will spur enough economic growth to offset the costs, independent watchdogs remain skeptical. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the legislation will increase the national debt by $3 trillion, including interest, over the next decade.
AP
