Elon Musk says bill cannot be both big and beautiful, announces resignation
Billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, has announced his resignation from his position of senior advisor to US President Donald Trump in the Department of Government Efficiency, more commonly known as DOGE, on his social media site X (formerly Twitter). Musk’s post stated, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.”
The billionaire tech mogul, known for car brand Tesla, SpaceX and X, resigned after criticising Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act’ flagship spending bill, calling it fiscally irresponsible. He publically labeled the bill a ‘massive spending bill’ that undermines DOGE’s mission to simplify bureaucracy and cut costs. The bill contains huge tax cuts, an increase in defense spending and even stricter immigration policies, is projected to blow the national debt out of proportion, clashing with Musk’s goal of saving at least $1 trillion in government spending. In an interview with the news channel CBS, prior to announcing his decision to step down, Musk said he believes that a bill can either be big or beautiful and not both simultaneously.
Musk expressed gratitude to Trump for the opportunity and stated that even in his absence DOGE’s mission will continue to strengthen, likening it to a ‘way of life’ for government efficiency. However, his departure might also be due to Tesla’s financial struggles. Tesla’s stock plummeted 71% in the first quarter of 2025, even after the White House publicized Tesla vehicles like the cybertruck and a Model S. Additionally, Musk’s high-profile political spending of over $25 million to support Trump’s 2024 campaign, failed to yield desired outcomes like in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race.
