The White House has reaffirmed its commitment to slashing federal government spending, following the exit of Elon Musk from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The billionaire entrepreneur, who was personally appointed by President Donald Trump, had been leading efforts to reduce government waste and inefficiencies.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday acknowledged Musk’s departure, stating, “We thank him for his service. We thank him for getting DOGE off the ground, and the efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse will continue.”
Musk stepped down citing a renewed focus on his business ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX, after playing a pivotal role in shaping Trump’s government reform agenda.
Despite Musk’s public praise for Trump, he openly criticized the president’s recently passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act”, describing it as a contradiction to the administration’s cost-cutting efforts. The bill, which cleared the House and is now under Senate consideration, combines tax relief measures with broad spending cuts and is seen as a cornerstone of Trump’s domestic policy.
Speaking to CBS, Musk expressed his disappointment: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly,” he said, noting concerns about its potential impact on the national deficit.
Musk, who has been a major financial backer and informal advisor to Trump, also announced plans to scale back his political donations. Having spent approximately $250 million in support of Trump’s re-election campaign, the world’s richest man said he would reduce his political engagement moving forward.
What you should know
Elon Musk’s departure from DOGE won’t derail the White House’s cost-cutting mission. Although once a key Trump ally, Musk now distances himself from the president’s signature spending bill and political fundraising activities.
