Elon Musk publicly breaks with Trump over the GOP’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” calling it a budget-busting measure that undermines his work to cut government waste. The tech billionaire says the legislation undermines the efficiency work being done by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.
Musk’s Unexpected Criticism of Trump-Backed Legislation
In a surprising shift from his previously close relationship with President Trump, Elon Musk has publicly voiced strong criticism of the Republican-backed “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Musk, who has been leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed clear disappointment with the legislation that many conservatives had championed as a cornerstone of economic reform. His comments signal a potential rift between the tech entrepreneur and GOP leadership at a time when his influence on government policy has been growing.
The legislation, officially titled “House Resolution 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” has been touted as a comprehensive approach to economic growth and deregulation. However, Musk’s assessment presents a stark contrast to this narrative, focusing instead on what he sees as its failure to address fiscal responsibility. The bill passed the House by a narrow margin and is expected to face significant challenges in the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.
"I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don't know if it could be both."
Tech billionaire Elon Musk tells CBS Sunday Morning's @Pogue he was "disappointed" to see the Trump-backed "big beautiful" spending bill, which passed in the House last week.
Musk said… pic.twitter.com/LUcuTaNYrs
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) May 28, 2025
Budget Concerns and Undermined Efficiency Efforts
Central to Musk’s criticism is his claim that the bill worsens America’s fiscal outlook rather than improving it. This perspective challenges the traditional Republican stance of fiscal conservatism and deficit reduction. Musk’s comments highlight a growing tension between different factions within conservative circles about how to balance economic growth with responsible government spending.
“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.” – Elon Musk
Adding to his criticism, Musk specifically noted that the bill contradicts and potentially negates the efficiency work his DOGE team has been pursuing. Correspondent David Pogue echoed this concern, suggesting that “everything he’s done on DOGE gets wiped out in the first year” by this legislation. For many fiscal conservatives watching Musk’s efficiency initiatives with hope, this revelation raises serious questions about the GOP’s commitment to actually reducing government waste.
🚨Just in: @elonmusk says he is disappointed with the Big Beautiful Bill:
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it. And it undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”pic.twitter.com/bFQgcuEOe0
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) May 28, 2025
DOGE Becoming a “Whipping Boy” as Musk Returns to Private Sector Focus
In his statements, Musk also expressed frustration that his department has become a scapegoat for unrelated issues. “DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything. So, like, something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it,” Musk stated. This sentiment reflects the challenges of implementing government reform in a highly politicized environment where efficiency initiatives often face resistance from entrenched bureaucracies.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.” – Elon Musk
Meanwhile, Musk has returned to Texas to focus on his companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, which he says have become targets of violence. “People were burning Teslas. Why would you do that? That’s really uncool,” Musk noted. He also highlighted significant inefficiencies in federal operations, particularly outdated computer systems that hamper government functionality. Despite his disappointment with the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Musk has indicated he will continue his efficiency work, even as questions emerge about the practical impact his efforts can have against countervailing legislative forces.