Domestic policy bill dissatisfaction expressed by Elon Musk, contrasting his stance with President Trump
WASHINGTON - Tech mogul Elon Musk has criticized the House-passed domestic policy bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for boosting the federal deficit and contradicting the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he led as a special government employee under the Trump administration.
Speaking to CBS' "Sunday Morning," Musk described the bill as a "massive spending bill" that increases the budget deficit, and expressed disappointment that it does not decrease the deficit as he had hoped through the work of DOGE.
As the bill moves to the Senate, several senators have also expressed skepticism over its budgetary impact. The legislative package encompasses many of Trump's priorities, and the president has urged Congress to send it to his desk for a signature "as soon as possible."
Musk's remarks in the interview come as he has indicated his intention to return his attention to the private sector, stating last week that he would be spending 24/7 at work and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms.
NBC News reported that special government employees, including Musk, can typically work up to 130 days in a calendar year, though the days can be split up. As the White House first publicly acknowledged Musk's role on February 3rd, Musk was likely nearing the end of his tenure.
Musk acknowledged the imminent end of his White House role in a Wednesday night post on X and called for the "DOGE mission" to become "a way of life throughout the government."
Musk, a Trump ally and top White House figure, has also distanced himself from Trump over tariff policies. Musk, whose automaker, Tesla, has parts made in North America, China, and Europe, has advocated for a "zero-tariff situation" between Europe and the U.S.
In the "Sunday Morning" interview, Musk questioned the title of the bill, likening it to a bill that may be big but not necessarily beautiful. He also took issue with the tax cuts and spending measures included in the bill, which the Congressional Budget Office projects will add $2.3 trillion to the federal deficit over ten years.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., shared Musk's sentiments, stating that there's "nothing beautiful" about adding to the deficit. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised DOGE's efforts in the bill, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., announced plans to introduce a DOGE cuts bill on Monday.
However, critics argue that the cuts proposed by DOGE have hurt vital programs and instigated chaos, while some Republican senators have expressed concerns over certain cuts to programs like Medicaid. The House-passed bill is expected to rescind health care for approximately 8.6 million people, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has likening outsize spending to "mortgaging our children's future," while Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has urged his colleagues to avoid Medicaid cuts in an op-ed published in The New York Times. Any changes made to the bill in the Senate would require approval from the House, and the bill passed the House on a razor-thin margin of 215-214 votes, largely along party lines.
- Elon Musk, formerly a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for increasing the federal deficit.
- Musk described the bill as a "massive spending bill," expressing disappointment that it does not decrease the deficit as he had hoped through the work of DOGE.
- Several senators have also expressed skepticism over the bill's budgetary impact, with President Trump urging Congress to send it to his desk for a signature "as soon as possible."
- Musk, a Trump ally, has distanced himself from Trump over tariff policies, advocating for a "zero-tariff situation" between Europe and the U.S.
- Speaking to CBS' "Sunday Morning," Musk questioned the title of the bill, likening it to a bill that may be big but not necessarily beautiful.
- The Congressional Budget Office projects that the tax cuts and spending measures included in the bill will add $2.3 trillion to the federal deficit over ten years.
- Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., shared Musk's sentiments, stating that there's "nothing beautiful" about adding to the deficit.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised DOGE's efforts in the bill, while Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., announced plans to introduce a DOGE cuts bill on Monday.
- Critics argue that the cuts proposed by DOGE have hurt vital programs and instigated chaos, while certain Republican senators have expressed concerns over cuts to programs like Medicaid.
- The House-passed bill is expected to rescind health care for approximately 8.6 million people, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has likened outsize spending to "mortgaging our children's future," while Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has urged his colleagues to avoid Medicaid cuts.
- Any changes made to the bill in the Senate would require approval from the House, as the bill passed the House on a razor-thin margin of 215-214 votes, largely along party lines.
- Elon Musk, in his role at DOGE, had aimed to decrease the federal deficit, but feels that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act contradicts those efforts.
- In a Wednesday night post on X, Musk acknowledged the imminent end of his White House role and called for the "DOGE mission" to become "a way of life throughout the government."
- Musk has indicated his intention to return his attention to the private sector, stating that he would be working 24/7 and sleeping in conference/server/factory rooms.
- Special government employees, including Musk, can typically work up to 130 days in a calendar year, though the days can be split up.
- As the White House first publicly acknowledged Musk's role on February 3rd, Musk was likely nearing the end of his tenure.
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act encompasses many of Trump's priorities, focusing on policy and legislation.
- In the world of stocks, investors might want to stay updated on the bill's progress, as its passage could impact various sectors, including career development and job-search.
- Online education platforms could experience changes related to education-and-self-development and lifelong learning due to the bill's potential impact on policy and legislation.
- Productivity and personal growth may be affected by the bill, as changes in policy can impact the availability and accessibility of resources and opportunities.
- Learning new skills through skills-training would be crucial for individuals seeking career-development opportunities in a changing job market.
- In the sports world, some athletes might seek to invest in sports-betting platforms, as this industry shows potential for growth and revenue generation.
- European leagues like the Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga could see changes in policy and legislation that impact their operations and financial status.
- Politics, crime-and-justice, and general-news outlets would closely monitor the bill's progress, as developments in policy and legislation can have widespread effects on various aspects of society.
