Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced his departure from his advisory role in the Trump administration, bringing an end to his brief but high-profile stint as a Special Government Employee focused on cutting federal bureaucracy.
Here are 10 key things to know about Musk’s exit and the political fallout:
- Musk Confirms Departure
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Musk said, “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.” A White House official, speaking anonymously, confirmed his departure. - Break with Trump Over Spending Bill
Musk’s resignation follows his public criticism of Trump’s signature legislative proposal, the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” which includes sweeping tax cuts and major spending reductions. Musk called the bill fiscally irresponsible. - ‘Big or Beautiful — Not Both’
In an interview with CBS, Musk remarked, “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don’t know if it could be both,” slamming the proposal as a “massive spending bill” that worsens the national deficit. - Support from GOP Senators
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) backed Musk’s concerns, saying, “I sympathize with Elon being discouraged.” Johnson suggested the bill might face internal GOP resistance unless fiscal concerns are addressed. - Trump Defends Legislation
President Trump responded to critics by acknowledging the bill’s imperfections: “I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects… It’s got a way to go.” He framed it as a necessary compromise. - Doge Department Under Scrutiny
Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), a newly created agency tasked with slashing red tape. In an interview with The Washington Post, Musk said Doge had become “a whipping boy” for broader government dysfunction. “Something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed,” he said. - Trump Foreshadowed Musk’s Exit
Earlier in March, Trump hinted that Musk’s government role would be temporary. “I think he is amazing, but he’s got a big company to run,” Trump told Politico. “He wants to [leave]… I would keep him as long as I could.” - Limited Impact and Internal Resistance
Despite reportedly removing tens of thousands from the government payroll, Musk admitted that Doge fell short of its objectives. “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he said, blaming entrenched resistance. - Backlash Against Musk’s Businesses
Musk’s involvement in politics had repercussions for his private ventures. Tesla became the target of protests and even arson. “People were burning Teslas. Why would you do that? That’s really uncool,” Musk said. - Return to Private Sector
Following the explosion of a Starship prototype over the Indian Ocean, Musk confirmed he would step back from political involvement and refocus on SpaceX and Tesla. He reportedly spent around $250 million supporting Trump during his time in government.
