Elon Musk Exits Trump Administration After Slamming ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ on His Way Out

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced his departure from the Trump administration, where he served as a Special Government Employee and advisor. Musk also relinquished his role in leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a team tasked with curbing government spending and improving operational efficiency.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), thanking former President Donald Trump for the opportunity to serve. "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," Musk posted. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."

A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed Musk's exit, noting that his 130-day term was set to conclude around May 30.

Departure Follows Criticism of Trump's Signature Tax Bill

Musk's departure comes just a day after he publicly criticised a key component of Trump's legislative agenda - a controversial package of tax cuts and immigration enforcement policies, often referred to by the former president as his "big beautiful bill."

In an interview with CBS, Musk expressed his disappointment with the bill, calling it a "massive spending measure" that contradicts the core goals of the DOGE initiative. "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful," he said. "But I don't know if it could be both."

According to Musk, the legislation undermines efforts to streamline government expenditures and contributes to the ballooning federal deficit - the very problems DOGE aimed to solve.

Trump Responds

Responding to the criticism from Musk, Trump defended the legislation during remarks from the Oval Office. "I am not happy about certain aspects of it, but I am thrilled by other aspects of it," he said, adding that further revisions were possible. "We are going to see what happens. It's got a way to go."

Despite the shakeup, the White House stated that the Department of Government Efficiency would continue its mission under new leadership.