Elon Musk announced a significant shift in his focus, stating he will pull back from his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to concentrate on managing his various enterprises, including X, Tesla, and SpaceX. After all, less than a month ago, Musk himself denounced one of the most controversial Republican spending bills. He thinks it defeats DOGE’s mission to eliminate government waste and inefficiency.
So far, since January, DOGE has been the hero taxpayer in saving approximately $170 billion. It centers on cutting out waste in government and getting rid of duplication. Its scorched earth approach has led to the elimination of some 275,000 state and local government jobs, as estimated by consulting company Challenger, Gray & Christmas. With the national debt rising to $36.2 trillion, the deficit is expected to reach near $2 trillion by 2025.
Musk’s opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act came out following the bill’s successful passage through House vote. He expressed disappointment over its potential effects on the budget deficit, stating, “I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.” The Congressional Budget Office is sounding a warning bell that this massive legislation could increase the federal budget deficit. They forecast a $3.8 trillion over the next decade.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will likely meet determined resistance on the Senate side. Former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans argue that the bill will effectively reduce spending in critical areas and foster growth sufficient to offset tax reductions.
Musk’s relationship with Trump has been notable since the latter’s election, with Musk frequently appearing at the White House. His son, X Æ A-Xii, an avatar of longtermism, accompanied him to a recent press conference onstage with Trump.
It seems that Musk has chosen to focus on his corporate duties instead of his role with DOGE. He remarked on the legislative environment, saying, “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful, but I don’t know if it could be both.”
His epic interview, in which Musk explained all of this, will air June 1 on CBS Sunday Morning.