Elon Musk says Trump’s agenda bill ‘undermines’ DOGE mission

Tech billionaire Elon Musk voiced concern this week over President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill. In an interview aired Sunday and released online Tuesday, Musk said the legislation would increase the U.S. deficit and undermine efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill,” Musk told CBS Sunday Morning. “It increases the budget deficit, not decreases it, and undermines the work the DOGE team is doing.”

The legislation, dubbed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” includes trillions in tax cuts and large increases to military and national security budgets. These are largely funded by cuts to federal health, nutrition, and energy programs. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the measure would add $3.8 trillion to the national deficit.

The bill narrowly passed the House last week. It now moves to the Senate, where revisions are expected.

Musk, a prominent Trump donor, raised his concerns while on a media tour ahead of a major SpaceX test flight Tuesday evening. He announced that he plans to step back from his involvement in government efforts to focus more on his private ventures, including SpaceX and Tesla.

“I probably did spend too much time on politics,” Musk admitted in an interview with Ars Technica. “The media over-represents political stuff because it gets traction. It’s not like I left my companies. But my time allocation to government work was probably too high. I’ve scaled that back in recent weeks.”

Musk’s remarks follow a turbulent year for his companies. SpaceX and Tesla both faced public and financial challenges, some of which critics say were intensified by Musk’s political ties.

Despite those concerns, Musk continues to defend the work of DOGE. He argued that the department is being unfairly blamed for failures beyond its control.

“DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything,” Musk told The Washington Post. “Something bad happens anywhere, and we get blamed, even when we had nothing to do with it.”

His reduced involvement in politics could also extend to campaign donations. Last week, Musk said he plans to spend “a lot less” on political causes going forward. Still, he has not clarified whether he will back away from a previous $100 million pledge to pro-Trump political groups.

In the 2024 election cycle, Musk reportedly spent over $290 million supporting Trump and GOP congressional candidates. His affiliated groups also invested $20 million in a high-profile Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this year. His favored candidate lost.

Experts say Musk’s shift in tone reflects growing tension between his business interests and his political activities.

“Corporate leaders often face backlash when they take strong political positions,” said Dr. Sandra Gold, a political science professor at the University of Chicago. “Musk is realizing the cost to his business image and possibly his bottom line.”

Although Musk has hinted at a retreat from the political spotlight, analysts caution that his influence remains substantial.

“Whether he donates $100 million or $10 million, Musk still has the platform and resources to shape national debates,” said Jon Harris, a senior analyst at Brookings.

For now, Musk appears focused on SpaceX’s Starship test and realigning his public role. He remains vocal about the federal government’s direction but may choose a lower profile in shaping it.

As the Senate prepares to debate Trump’s legislation, observers will watch whether Musk’s criticism influences the bill’s future—or marks a turning point in his political engagement.

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