Elon Musk is publicly criticizing President Donald Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, warning that it threatens to undermine the very government reform mission he was tasked with leading under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In a CBS Sunday Morning interview released Tuesday, Musk expressed disappointment over the size and impact of the legislation, calling it a blow to fiscal responsibility.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk said.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.”
The legislation — dubbed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” — promises trillions in tax cuts along with major increases to military and national security spending, while slashing federal health, nutrition, and clean energy programs. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the package is projected to add $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade.
Musk’s Changing Role
The billionaire’s remarks come as he launches a media tour tied to a SpaceX Starship test flight scheduled for Tuesday evening. Musk recently announced he would step back from full-time involvement in DOGE to refocus on his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, both of which have faced growing pressure amid political fallout tied to his close association with Trump.
In an interview with Ars Technica earlier Tuesday, Musk admitted:
“I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics… it was just relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I’ve reduced that significantly in recent weeks.”
Despite his retreat, Musk has not confirmed any changes to his political donations. He had pledged to spend $100 million on Trump-aligned groups and previously contributed over $290 million toward GOP victories in 2024, including over $20 million for a failed Wisconsin Supreme Court race.( More about: Angry Elon Is Back — And He’s Betting Big on Driverless Teslas and AI)
DOGE Under Fire
Musk also defended the Department of Government Efficiency, which he’s led since Trump’s re-election, arguing the agency is being unfairly scapegoated.
“DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything,” he told The Washington Post. “Something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it.”
Despite Musk’s reduced involvement, DOGE is expected to continue operating, with staff remaining embedded in federal agencies for months or even years, CNN has learned.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where significant revisions are expected. Musk’s vocal opposition — especially given his financial and political influence — could further complicate Republican messaging on fiscal responsibility as the 2026 midterms approach.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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Angry Elon Is Back — And He’s Betting Big on Driverless Teslas and AI
