Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role as a senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, concluding his tenure as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Tesla and SpaceX CEO was appointed to help streamline federal operations and reduce wasteful government spending.
Speaking at a press conference, Musk expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “As my term as a special government employee comes to an end, I want to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce government spending.” He added that the DOGE mission “will grow stronger over time.”
Musk’s resignation follows his sharp criticism of a major legislative proposal backed by Trump. In a recent interview with CBS, Musk voiced concern over the bill, which includes significant tax cuts and stricter immigration measures. Describing it as a “huge spending bill,” Musk argued that it contradicts the very goals of the DOGE initiative. “It increases the federal deficit and undermines the work of our department,” he said.
Taking a subtle jab at Trump’s description of the proposal as a “big beautiful bill,” Musk quipped, “I think a bill can be big and beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both.”
Trump, responding to Musk’s remarks in the Oval Office, admitted that the bill isn’t perfect. “I’m not happy with some aspects of it, but I’m thrilled with others,” he said, adding that revisions are still possible. “We’ll see what happens. It still has a long way to go.”
