Elon Musk Says Trump Bill Undermines DOGE Mission/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk voiced concerns over President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending package, saying it undermines the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and increases the federal deficit. Musk warned the bill could harm both economic stability and government modernization. His remarks come as he shifts focus back to SpaceX and Tesla.
Musk vs. Trump Spending Bill: Quick Looks
- Musk Criticizes Bill: Says it raises deficit, hurts DOGE reforms
- DOGE in Focus: Musk defends the Department of Government Efficiency’s mission
- Budget Impact: Congressional Budget Office predicts $3.8 trillion added to deficit
- Spending Priorities: Military funding up, health and energy programs slashed
- Media Tour Timing: Musk spoke before SpaceX Starship test launch
- Political Burnout: Musk admits reducing time spent on government matters
- Funding Future: Musk pledges to spend “a lot less” on politics
- DOGE Survival: Department to continue operations despite Musk stepping back
Elon Musk Says Trump Bill Undermines DOGE Mission
Deep Look
Elon Musk Slams Trump’s Spending Bill, Says It Undermines Government Efficiency
Washington, D.C. — Elon Musk, once a high-profile ally of President Donald Trump, has publicly criticized the administration’s massive new tax and spending legislation, warning that it contradicts the principles of fiscal responsibility and undermines government reform efforts.
In a video interview released Tuesday, Musk singled out the bill’s impact on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era agency focused on streamlining bureaucracy and modernizing government operations.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit… and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk told CBS Sunday Morning. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.”
A “Big, Beautiful” Budget Bill
The legislation, championed by President Trump and dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” includes trillions in tax cuts and substantial boosts to military and national security spending. To offset these increases, the bill slashes funding for federal health programs, nutritional assistance, and clean energy initiatives.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has projected the bill will add $3.8 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade.
The bill passed the House last week by a narrow margin and now heads to the Senate, where amendments are expected.
DOGE: A Casualty of Overspending?
Musk, who was instrumental in forming the Department of Government Efficiency during Trump’s first term, said the bill undermines DOGE’s core mission of reducing government waste.
Speaking to the Washington Post, Musk lamented how the department has become a scapegoat in recent political disputes.
“DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything,” he said. “Something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed even if we had nothing to do with it.”
Despite Musk’s criticism, sources close to the administration indicate that DOGE will continue to operate, with staff embedded across federal agencies expected to remain active for years.
Musk Steps Back From Politics
The tech mogul’s remarks come as he shifts attention back to his companies—SpaceX and Tesla—following what he admits was a period of disproportionate political involvement.
In an interview with Ars Technica ahead of Tuesday’s Starship test flight, Musk reflected on his own distraction with political affairs.
“It’s not like I left the companies. It was just relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side,” he said.
While Musk had been closely tied to Trump’s political machine, he now suggests his future political involvement—and spending—will be scaled back.
“I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics,” Musk said. “And I’ve reduced that significantly in recent weeks.”
Big Political Dollars, Fading Enthusiasm
Musk has previously committed over $290 million to Trump and GOP congressional candidates, plus another $20 million toward a failed conservative candidate in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Despite stating he’ll spend “a lot less” on politics moving forward, there’s been no clarification on whether his $100 million pledge to Trump-affiliated groups will be withdrawn.
His reevaluation of political spending follows increasing pressure over his alliances and a desire to refocus on SpaceX and Tesla amid financial turbulence and competition in both industries.
What’s Next?
While Musk’s criticism signals friction between two longtime allies, it’s unlikely to alter the bill’s path immediately. However, it raises deeper questions about the sustainability of Trump’s spending strategy and the future of tech-aligned government reforms like DOGE.
As Senate lawmakers prepare to reshape the legislation, the voices of conservative influencers like Musk could influence the final outcome—especially if other fiscal hawks join the chorus.
