Elon Musk, the South Africa-born billionaire famous for leading Tesla and SpaceX, recently stepped away from his government role aimed at cutting US federal spending.
His departure comes amid ongoing debates over a major spending bill pushed by President Donald Trump, which Musk openly criticized for increasing the national deficit.
The Big Spending Bill Under Scrutiny
The bill, officially known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” has already passed the House of Representatives and is now headed to the Senate.
It’s designed to fund President Trump’s vision of a new “Golden Age,” relying heavily on shrinking social safety net programs to finance a decade-long extension of the 2017 tax cuts.
While the administration champions it, many critics warn that the bill could have severe consequences — including deep cuts to health care services for low-income Americans and a ballooning national debt.
Musk Voices Disappointment With Spending Priorities
In a recent interview with CBS News, Musk didn’t hold back his feelings.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” he said.
Musk’s comments are particularly notable because Trump had appointed him to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force created to reduce government waste and slash spending.
Musk quipped, “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.”
This interview snippet aired on Tuesday evening, with the full interview scheduled for release on Sunday.
Reflecting on the Challenges of Government Reform
In another interview with the Washington Post, Musk reflected on his time leading government reforms.
He admitted the federal bureaucracy was far more complicated and entrenched than he originally thought.
“I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in DC, to say the least,” he shared.
During his tenure with DOGE, many civil servants lost their jobs, sometimes with little warning, as departments were downsized or even shut down.
Despite these efforts, Musk acknowledged in May that he didn’t accomplish all his goals before stepping back to focus on his companies again.
What’s Next for Musk and Government Efficiency?
Musk told the Washington Post he plans to continue working with DOGE, but with a new focus: upgrading the federal government’s outdated computer systems rather than pushing further layoffs.
This shift reflects both the complexity of government reform and Musk’s recognition that systemic upgrades might yield longer-lasting results than cuts alone.
A Growing Rift Between Musk and Trump?
Musk’s critical remarks raise questions about his relationship with the Trump administration, especially given Trump’s strong backing of the spending bill Musk opposed.
Whether this signals deeper cracks between the two remains to be seen, but Musk’s independent stance certainly adds an intriguing dynamic to the politics around federal spending and reform.