Musk Blasts Trump’s Spending Bill, Says It Derails Cost-Cutting Goals

Elon Musk has criticized Donald Trump’s recently passed tax legislation, claiming it undermines the federal government’s cost-cutting efforts that he was once leading. Speaking to CBS in an interview previewed on social media, Musk said he was “disappointed to see the massive spending bill,” arguing that it increases the national deficit and sabotages the mission of the so-called Doge (Department of Government Efficiency).
Musk had chaired Doge since January, a special department aimed at slashing federal spending. He stepped back from his involvement in April after Tesla reported disappointing earnings and after he spent heavily in a failed Supreme Court race. The bill Musk referred to, titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends Trump-era tax breaks for corporations and individuals while simultaneously eliminating several social welfare programs and clean energy incentives.
The Tesla CEO’s critique is especially notable given his prior financial backing of Trump’s campaign—his political action committee had donated $200 million. However, the end of electric vehicle incentives and new fees on EVs directly threaten Tesla’s bottom line, which may be fueling Musk’s current discontent. The proposed law is also expected to balloon the federal deficit by $2.3 trillion, raising alarms even among fiscal conservatives.