Musk has been helping lead the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, since its creation earlier this year.
He was appointed by Trump as a “Special Government Employee,” a designation that allows him to work in a government role for up to 130 days per year. Counting from Trump’s inauguration on January 20, Musk would have reached that limit by the end of May.
In a post on X, Musk thanked Trump for the role and stated that he believed the spending reduction agency would become a “way of life across government.”
“As my scheduled term as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I want to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce unnecessary spending,” Musk wrote on X. He added that the agency “will grow stronger over time.”
A White House official told the outlet Semafor that Musk’s departure from his government role would begin Wednesday evening.
Musk’s departure follows his criticism, during an interview, of Trump’s budget proposal currently being debated in the U.S. Congress. The bill includes massive tax breaks and a promise to increase defense spending.
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed what Trump has called his “big, beautiful” bill last week, and it is now under debate in the Senate.
Musk’s Criticism
Musk’s comments cast doubt on the previously close relationship he had with President Trump.
He told CBS News, the BBC’s American partner, that he is “disappointed” with the budget plan because he believes it “undermines” the work he did for the president to reduce public spending.
Appointed by Trump as the “savings czar,” the tech magnate had cut funding for U.S. foreign aid, among other things, before announcing his departure.
“Frankly, I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill,” Musk said in the CBS Sunday Morning interview, excerpts of which were released ahead of the full broadcast.
The businessman argued that Trump’s plan “not only fails to reduce, but actually increases the budget deficit.”
The legislation is estimated to increase the U.S. budget deficit—the gap between government spending and revenue—by around $600 billion in the next fiscal year.
Moreover, the bill “undermines the work the DOGE team is doing,” Musk said.
Referring to the nickname Trump gave the legislation, Musk told CBS: “I think a bill can be big or beautiful. I don’t know if it can be both.”
A Deficit-Heavy Bill
The budget bill, a long-standing political priority for Trump, promises to extend the tax cuts passed during his first term in 2017—which are set to expire soon—inject more money into defense spending, and fund the president’s mass deportation efforts.
The bill also proposes raising the debt ceiling to $4 trillion, which is the maximum amount the federal government can borrow to meet its obligations.
Musk’s comments and his announcement that he is leaving DOGE suggest a growing rift with Trump, whom he helped return to the White House last year with donations exceeding $250 million. Musk believes Trump’s plan undermines the savings achieved by his department.
In April, DOGE’s website claimed that around $175 billion had already been saved, but the BBC reviewed that figure and found it to be unsubstantiated.
Musk also stated last week that he plans to significantly reduce his involvement in politics going forward and pledged to continue leading electric car company Tesla for at least another five years.
Tesla has faced protests, boycotts, and a drop in sales due to Musk’s role as DOGE director.
Musk defended his actions last week, stating: “I did what had to be done.”
Both Trump and Musk justified the cuts as a way to eliminate what they considered fraud and abuse in federal spending.
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