Elon Musk has announced his departure as a special government employee and senior advisor to President Donald Trump, concluding his efforts to streamline federal bureaucracy. Musk expressed gratitude to the president for the opportunity to help reduce wasteful spending and reaffirmed his commitment to the Dogecoin (DOGE) initiative within the government.
His exit was confirmed by a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity and comes shortly after Musk publicly criticized President Trump's major legislative proposal—a sweeping tax and immigration bill referred to by Trump as his "big beautiful bill." Musk described the legislation in an interview with CBS as a "massive spending bill," commenting, "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful, but I don’t know if it could be both."
Musk's critique resonated with several fiscal conservatives. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) expressed sympathy with Musk's stance during a Milwaukee Press Club event, noting there is "pretty confident" Republican opposition that could slow the bill's progress. Johnson emphasized the need for the administration to seriously address government spending.
In response, President Trump defended the bill in remarks made from the Oval Office, acknowledging some aspects of the legislation he was "not happy about," while expressing enthusiasm for other parts. He added, "We’re going to see what happens. It’s got a way to go." The bill, having passed the Republican-controlled House, now faces debate in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged senators to avoid significant alterations, warning that the complex legislation could unravel if extensively amended. A final House vote will follow once the Senate finalizes its version.
Musk’s departure introduces additional complexity to an already contentious legislative process and highlights growing divisions within the Republican Party regarding fiscal policy.
