Elon Musk publicly criticized President Donald Trump's recently passed $1.5 trillion spending bill, calling it a disappointment that threatens the cost-cutting goals of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. "I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly," Musk stated during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning. It "increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it," and "undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing."
The House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last week by a narrow margin of 215 to 214, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting against it. The legislation, a centerpiece of Trump's economic agenda, extends the 2017 tax cuts and eliminates taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security income. It also includes increased defense spending and supports the president's mass deportation policies.
Despite stepping back from his leadership role at DOGE, Musk's remarks underscore growing tension within Trump's Republican coalition over fiscal priorities.
Trump has promoted the legislation as "one big, beautiful bill," but Musk took aim at the phrase. "I think a bill can be big or beautiful. I don't know if it can be both," he told CBS. Musk, who previously served as Trump's appointed cost-cutting czar, led DOGE's initiatives to slash federal spending by reducing foreign aid, cancelling contracts, and cutting the federal workforce.
DOGE's website claims it has saved $175 billion to date, though BBC reporting noted a lack of clear documentation supporting that figure. Musk had vowed to help the administration reduce spending by $1 trillion. "I did what needed to be done," he said in reference to layoffs and contract cancellations under his tenure.
The Congressional Budget Office has not yet released a full score of the bill, but estimates suggest it could add $600 billion to the federal deficit in the coming fiscal year. The U.S. government remains over $36 trillion in debt and has already spent $1.05 trillion more than it collected in the 2025 fiscal year, according to the Treasury Department.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces revisions and political hurdles before potentially reaching Trump's desk by July 4. Republican leadership is pushing for swift passage, while fiscal conservatives remain split over the legislation's impact on long-term debt reduction.
Musk, who donated more than $250 million to Trump's 2024 re-election campaign, also stated last week he plans to do "a lot less" political spending going forward and is committed to leading Tesla for another five years. His work with DOGE had drawn protests and boycotts against the automaker, prompting internal debate at the company.
