Elon Musk has announced his resignation as a special adviser to President Donald Trump, bringing an end to his role leading the administration’s efforts to streamline and reform federal bureaucracy. The departure, Musk said, was part of a planned timeline.
“As my time as a special government employee comes to a close, I want to thank the president for the opportunity to combat unnecessary spending,” Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. “The mission of DOGE will only grow stronger over time, as it becomes a way of life across the government,” he added, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Musk’s departure.
The announcement came just one day after Musk sharply criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda—the so-called “great and beautiful bill,” which combines tax cuts with stricter immigration enforcement. In a CBS interview, Musk described the proposal as “a massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines” the work of his department.
“A bill can be great or it can be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t think it can be both.”
From the Oval Office, Trump defended his plan, acknowledging some concerns but highlighting its achievements. “I’m not happy with certain aspects, but I’m thrilled with others,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. It still has a way to go.”
The bill has passed the Republican-controlled House and is now under debate in the Senate. Some GOP lawmakers have voiced skepticism. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said he “sympathized with Musk’s frustration” and believes there’s enough opposition to slow down the bill. “There’s no amount of pressure the president can apply that will change my mind,” he declared.
House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly thanked Musk for his work and pledged to build on DOGE’s findings to pursue further spending cuts. “The House is ready and eager to act,” he said.
Musk, now turning his focus back to Tesla and SpaceX, also stated he would scale back his political involvement. “I think I’ve done enough,” he said.
Although once enthusiastic about the chance to reshape Washington, Musk now admits the challenge was greater than he expected. “The federal bureaucracy is far worse than I imagined,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were issues, but it’s definitely an uphill battle trying to make things better in D.C., to say the least.” His ambitious goal of slashing $1 trillion in spending fell far short.
In earlier days, Musk had been one of Trump’s most vocal allies—wearing campaign hats at the White House, hosting rallies, and calling excessive spending an existential threat. In February, he declared: “The more I get to know President Trump, the more I like him. Frankly, I love the guy.”
Trump returned the admiration, calling Musk “a truly great American.” At one point, as Tesla faced slumping sales, Trump turned the White House entrance into an impromptu Tesla showroom to signal his support.
It remains unclear how much influence Musk’s latest criticism will have on the legislative process. However, some Republicans are already echoing his concerns. Utah Senator Mike Lee reposted Musk’s interview on social media, adding: “There’s still time to fix this. The Senate version will be more aggressive. It can, should, and will be. Or it won’t pass.”
In the House, only two Republicans—Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky—voted against the bill. Davidson referenced Musk’s comments on X, writing: “Hopefully the Senate will succeed where the House missed its moment. Don’t count on someone else to reduce the deficit someday—let it be known we did it in this Congress.”
A preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office projected that the bill’s tax provisions would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over the next decade, while changes to Medicaid, food stamps, and other services would reduce spending by just over $1 trillion in the same period.
House Republican leaders insist that economic growth will offset the costs, but outside analysts remain skeptical. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the legislation would add $3 trillion to the national debt, including interest, over the next ten years.
