Elon Musk has expressed deep concern that President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” represents a disservice to the cost-cutting initiatives he led as part of the “department of government efficiency” (Doge). In a CBS interview preview, Musk articulated his “disappointment” with the bill’s “massive spending” and its anticipated $2.3 trillion contribution to the budget deficit, directly undermining his team’s efforts to streamline state expenditures.
Musk’s involvement with Doge, starting in January, was framed as a mission to enhance government efficiency and reduce wasteful spending. His subsequent withdrawal from the Trump administration in April, following a significant drop in Tesla’s earnings, hinted at growing frustrations. His latest public comments solidify this perception, portraying him as a critic who believes the administration’s actions are now directly contradictory to the very goals he was tasked with achieving.
The bill’s provisions, which include extending tax cuts, ending clean energy incentives, and making significant cuts to social safety nets like Medicaid and SNAP, present a complex fiscal picture. While designed to enact campaign promises, the substantial projected increase in national debt and the cuts to programs for struggling households are fueling opposition from various sectors, including now from a high-profile figure like Musk who was previously an insider.