Elon Musk, billionaire tech mogul and founder of multiple ventures, revealed on Wednesday that he has concluded his tenure as a key adviser to President Donald Trump. Musk had been tapped to lead efforts aimed at curbing government inefficiencies and cutting down on unnecessary expenditures.
Using his social media network X to make the announcement, Musk wrote, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
An official from the White House, speaking on condition of anonymity, later confirmed Musk’s exit to The Associated Press.
The announcement came shortly after Musk openly criticized one of President Trump’s flagship initiatives, often referred to as the “big beautiful bill.” In an interview with CBS, Musk described the package — which blends tax reductions with stricter immigration controls — as a “massive spending bill” that worsens the national deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”
Responding to Musk’s remarks, President Trump acknowledged the challenge of crafting legislation, saying, “I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” while indicating that changes might be made down the line.
Musk had been appointed by Trump shortly after his reelection in November to help lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. Initially, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was expected to co-head the effort, but he opted out mere hours after Trump was sworn in again this January.
Rumors of Musk’s pending resignation had been circulating for weeks. Several reports indicated that Trump had already informed members of his Cabinet and close allies that Musk would be stepping down soon.
The speculation intensified after Musk declared his intention to launch an inquiry into the personal wealth of U.S. lawmakers, questioning how many had managed to amass large fortunes despite drawing a relatively modest congressional salary of $174,000 annually.
{Matzav.com}