Musk quits U.S. post after slamming Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill

Billionaire Elon Musk said his term as head of the U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) is ending, thanking President Donald Trump “for the opportunity to cut wasteful spending.”

In a post on X, Musk said he was confident DOGE’s “mission will only strengthen, becoming a way of life for government.” A White House official confirmed his departure, which came a day after Musk criticised Trump’s flagship “big and beautiful” bill, warning it would raise federal spending and “undermine” DOGE’s work.

In a CBS interview excerpt released on May 28, Musk said, “A bill can be big or beautiful; I’m not sure it can be both.” The legislation extends tax breaks, boosts defence outlays, tightens border security and funds mass deportations of undocumented migrants.

Appointed a “special government employee” after Trump’s January 20 inauguration, Musk could work up to 130 days a year for the administration. Sources told Reuters the dismissal process started overnight on Thursday and that Musk had no prior conversation with Trump.

Musk earlier blamed entrenched bureaucracy for DOGE’s unmet goals, despite layoffs of tens of thousands of civil servants and the closure or downsizing of several agencies. Last week he said he would focus on Tesla and spend “far less” time on politics after shares in the carmaker fell sharply.