Elon Musk has stepped down from his advisory role in the Trump administration after criticizing the president’s key legislative proposal. The billionaire entrepreneur cited growing concerns over federal spending and inefficiencies.
Musk, who served as a Special Government Employee, announced his departure on X. “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump,” Musk wrote. He added that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would continue to promote fiscal reform.
His resignation comes shortly after expressing disappointment with Trump’s flagship legislative effort, dubbed the “big beautiful bill.” In an interview with CBS, Musk described the measure as a “massive spending bill” that contradicts DOGE’s mission and increases the federal deficit.
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025
Despite Musk’s exit, the White House confirmed plans to continue DOGE-inspired spending cuts, including rescinding $1.1 billion from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting and $8.3 billion in foreign aid.
Some Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Johnson and Sen. Mike Lee, echoed Musk’s concerns and pushed for more aggressive fiscal reforms.
The bill, which includes tax cuts and immigration enforcement measures, has passed the House and is currently under Senate review. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it would add $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years, with only $1 trillion in cuts to social programs.
Musk said he would now refocus on his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, and step back from political donations. Reflecting on his government stint, he admitted: “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized.”
