Elon Musk Resigns from Trump Administration After Criticizing ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Elon Musk has announced via social media that he is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration.

“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 wrote on X, his social media platform.

“The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he said, referring to his “department of government efficiency.”

A White House official confirmed to Reuters that Elon Musk is indeed stepping down from the administration, with the “off-boarding process set to begin tonight.”

Musk’s exit was swift and low-key. According to a source familiar with the situation, he made the decision without holding a formal discussion with former President Trump. Instead, the departure was finalized “at a senior staff level.”

Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest individual, has defended his brief but powerful role as an unelected official within the Trump administration. Granted sweeping authority by the former president, Musk was tasked with downsizing segments of the U.S. government during his 130-day tenure as a special government employee — a term set to expire around May 30.

Both Musk and the administration have stated that the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline and restructure the federal government will move forward despite his departure.

In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Musk criticized President Trump’s signature tax legislation, describing it as overly costly and counterproductive to his mission of improving government efficiency.

“The federal bureaucracy is in worse shape than I expected,” Musk said. “I knew it would be challenging, but trying to fix things in D.C. is truly an uphill battle.”

According to a Reuters analysis of agency records, Trump and DOGE have managed to cut approximately 12% of the federal civilian workforce—about 260,000 positions—through a combination of layoffs, buyouts, and early retirement incentives.

Musk’s involvement in politics has not gone unnoticed. His role has sparked public demonstrations, and some investors have urged him to step away from politics and focus more closely on leading Tesla.

After spending nearly $300 million supporting Trump’s campaign and other Republican causes last year, Musk recently signaled plans to reduce his political contributions. Speaking at an economic forum in Qatar, he said, “I think I’ve done enough.”