Elon Musk Resigns From DOGE Role, Criticizes Trump’s Spending Bill

The political bromance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump appears to be cooling off. In a major development this week, tech billionaire Elon Musk announced he is stepping down from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative created to cut federal spending. Musk’s resignation follows mounting disagreements with President Trump over a controversial spending and tax relief bill known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” Musk claimed the bill would “increase the budget deficit” and undermine DOGE’s mission.

The decision marks a turning point in Musk’s unusual yet high-profile political involvement under the Trump administration. His departure comes amid mounting scrutiny over his dual roles as a public official and a private sector CEO—especially at a time when his company, Tesla, is experiencing significant financial losses.

“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote on his platform, X. He added that the DOGE mission would “strengthen over time” as government culture adapts to efficiency measures.

Musk’s role in the Trump administration was always unconventional. Their political alliance was cemented over a series of high-profile events, beginning with Musk’s surprise endorsement of Trump following an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally in July 2024. Musk later donated over $250 million to Trump’s reelection campaign and publicly backed his policies, even joining Trump onstage at campaign rallies wearing MAGA gear and coining the phrase “dark MAGA.”

The bond between the two deepened when Musk proposed the formation of a government efficiency commission, which Trump agreed to create if reelected. True to his word, after securing victory in the 2024 election, Trump appointed Musk to lead the newly formed DOGE, which aimed to streamline bureaucracy and cut federal spending.

From there, Musk's presence in Washington grew. He was seen at major White House events, including Trump’s inauguration, where he drew criticism for a controversial salute, and at the signing of an executive order aimed at shrinking the federal workforce. Musk even appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference wielding a diamond-encrusted chainsaw—symbolizing his aggressive approach to budget cuts.

But cracks in the alliance began to show as policy differences emerged. Musk’s discontent came to a head with the introduction of Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” which passed the House in late May and is now headed to the Senate. The bill, which combines sweeping tax relief with massive spending programs, has drawn criticism for its fiscal implications. In an interview with CBS News, Musk didn’t hold back: “I’m 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’s frustrations also stem from internal disagreements over key appointments. He had recommended Howard Lutnick for Treasury Secretary, but Trump instead nominated him for Commerce Secretary. Such snubs reportedly contributed to Musk’s feeling sidelined, even as he remained publicly loyal.

Tensions further escalated when Musk, who had once described DOGE as a transformative mission for the U.S. government, referred to the department as a “whipping boy” for policy failures. “A bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both,” he quipped in his CBS interview, a remark interpreted as a thinly veiled jab at Trump’s rhetoric.

The White House tried to downplay the rift. Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted on X, clarifying that the Big Beautiful Bill is not a standard budget bill and that DOGE reforms would require separate legislation. Still, the optics of Musk’s resignation and public criticism could complicate Trump’s messaging around fiscal discipline.

While Musk remains a polarizing figure, his time in government did capture public imagination. His tech-savvy image and blunt political commentary gave DOGE a unique spotlight, making him a hero to some and a lightning rod to others. But now, as he steps away from Washington, Musk seems eager to shift his attention back to the private sector, especially Tesla, which is in urgent need of strategic realignment following months of losses and declining stock performance.

This episode highlights the complexities of merging private enterprise and public governance, especially when strong personalities and differing priorities are involved. Musk’s departure leaves a vacuum in the Trump administration’s flagship cost-cutting initiative and raises questions about the future of DOGE without its most recognizable face.

For now, it appears the Musk-Trump bromance has hit a political roadblock. Whether this split is temporary or the end of their collaboration remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Elon Musk's experiment in government was as dramatic and unconventional as the man himself—and its impact will be debated long after he’s gone from the halls of power.