Musk criticizes Trump spending bill as court affirms his federal power

Elon Musk has criticized President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, saying it undercuts the budget-cutting mandate of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) , which Musk leads. Musk made the remark during an exclusive broadcast interview with "CBS Sunday Morning." — Image credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Musk backlash

Elon Musk said DOGE has become a political scapegoat, citing criticism and backlash following cost-cutting efforts. He also mentioned vandalism targeting Tesla.

Legal challenge

A federal judge ruled a lawsuit over Musk’s role in DOGE can proceed, rejecting claims that his position was merely advisory.

Spending bill split

Musk criticized Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” saying it undermines DOGE’s work and increases the federal deficit.

Full story

Elon Musk has broken ranks with President Donald Trump over the administration’s signature tax and spending bill. He said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act undermines the very agency Trump tapped him to lead.

In an exclusive interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Musk criticized the bill’s impact on federal finances and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill would increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next decade. The Trump administration said the plan will increase long-term real GDP by up to 3.5% and raise median household incomes by $5,000 per year.

What’s in Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’?

The House narrowly passed Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last week, 215–214. The package would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, expand border enforcement and roll back clean energy credits. It also includes new spending on domestic manufacturing and immigration processing.

What is DOGE and why is Musk involved?

DOGE was created by executive order to identify and eliminate wasteful federal spending. But Musk’s role and DOGE’s authority are now the subject of a legal challenge. Fourteen states sued Musk, DOGE and Trump in February. They argued that Musk exercised significant executive power without Senate confirmation or congressional authorization.

On Tuesday, May 27, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled that the case can proceed. She rejected a White House attempt to characterize Musk’s role as informal and temporary, writing that Musk “occupies a continuing position” and “exercises significant authority.”

What are the legal and political stakes?

The court allowed claims against Musk and DOGE to move forward. It found credible allegations that DOGE had accessed private and proprietary government data without authorization. Chutkan dismissed Trump as a defendant, citing presidential immunity in official duties.

The lawsuit comes amid growing backlash to DOGE’s cost-cutting measures. This has included controversy over cuts to foreign aid programs and accusations of data overreach. Musk told the Washington Post DOGE has become “the whipping boy for everything.”

What happens next?

The spending bill remains under consideration in the Senate. Meanwhile, Musk has reportedly stepped back from day-to-day DOGE operations to focus on Tesla, even as his leadership in the federal government remains under review by the court.

Jonah Applegarth (Production Specialist), Devan Markham (Morning Digital Producer), and Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: budget bill, CBS News, DOGE, Donald Trump, Elon Musk

[craig nigrelli]

ELON MUSK IS HITTING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” … WITH A NOT-SO-BEAUTIFUL REALITY CHECK.

IN A NEW INTERVIEW WITH CBS SUNDAY MORNING RELEASED LATE LAST NIGHT, MUSK SLAMS THE HOUSE-PASSED PACKAGE AS A BLOATED MESS.. AND SAYS IT WIPES OUT THE WORK HIS DOGE TEAM DID TO CUT GOVERNMENT WASTE

ELON MUSK, CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT

MUSK: So, you know, I was like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not decrease it and undermines the work the DOGE team is doing.

POGUE: I actually thought that when this big beautiful bill came along, I mean, like, everything he’s done on DOGE gets wiped out in the first year.

MUSK: I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.

THE BILL STILL NEEDS SENATE APPROVAL… BUT WITH A 3.8 TRILLION PRICE TAG, EVEN SOME CONSERVATIVES HAVE STICKER SHOCK.

THIS MARKS MUSK’S STRONGEST PUBLIC BREAK FROM TRUMP SINCE STEPPING AWAY FROM HIS DOGE ROLE… A CLEAR SIGN THE ALLIANCE MIGHT BE FRAYING.

Why this story matters

The debate over President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Elon Musk's critical stance as head of a new federal agency highlights legal, financial and political challenges surrounding government spending, executive power and oversight.

Fiscal policy

Disagreement over the bill's projected increase in the federal deficit, as noted by the Congressional Budget Office and the administration, raises concerns about the long-term financial stability of the government.

Executive authority

Legal challenges to Musk's role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) focus on questions about the limits of executive power and requirements for Senate confirmation.

Oversight and accountability

Allegations that DOGE accessed proprietary government data without authorization, along with controversy over cost-cutting measures, have prompted scrutiny of the operations and transparency of new federal agencies.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 49 media outlets

Behind the numbers

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" would increase the U.S. federal budget deficit by approximately $3.8 trillion over the next decade. The bill extends the 2017 tax cuts, increases defense and border spending and offsets some costs by reducing funding for programs such as Medicaid and clean energy incentives.

Debunking

Multiple sources confirm the central claims: Elon Musk did criticize the bill for raising the deficit, and the House did narrowly pass the legislation on a 215–214 vote. There is no evidence contradicting Musk’s statements or the legislative status of the bill. Musk's disappointment and his stepping back from government roles are documented across major news networks.

Quote bank

"I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work the DOGE team is doing," said Elon Musk to CBS. Senator Ron Johnson stated, “We are so far away from an acceptable bill, it’s hard to say,” reflecting ongoing Senate opposition.

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frame the bill primarily as a damaging Republican agenda, emphasizing its negative impact on Medicaid and deficit increases, often employing emotionally charged terms like “slashing Medicaid” and ironic use of “big, beautiful bill” to convey skepticism.
Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right highlight Musk’s rare break with Trump as a noteworthy rift within fiscal conservatives, framing the bill as both a GOP hallmark and a site of internal GOP debate, using phrases like “whipping boy” to evoke sympathy for Musk’s DOGE reforms amidst political pushback.

Report an issue with this comparison

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

97 total sources

Key points from the Left

Elon Musk expressed disappointment over President Donald Trump's spending bill, which he believes undermines the work of his Department of Government Efficiency.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Musk stated, "I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both," expressing concern about its impact on the budget deficit.
The spending bill is expected to add $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
After backing the bill, some Republicans, including Steve Bannon, have expressed concerns about its potential effects on the national deficit.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Center

House Republicans passed a domestic policy bill last week that extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and boosts border security spending.
The bill, called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," faces Senate approval and includes measures such as Medicaid work requirements and clean energy tax credit rollbacks.
Elon Musk, former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, criticized the bill’s large deficit impact and said it contradicts the cuts his DOGE team sought.
Musk said in a CBS interview, "I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both," expressing disappointment over the $3.8 trillion deficit increase by 2034.
Musk’s remarks suggest a rift with Trump, the bill’s main advocate and Musk indicated he will reduce his government involvement after leading sweeping agency cuts.

Report an issue with this summary

See Hide headlines from Center sources 28 sources

Key points from the Right

Elon Musk publicly criticized President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," expressing disappointment over its impact on fiscal stability and undermining the work of the Department of Government Efficiency team he leads.
The legislation is projected by the Congressional Budget Office to add $3.8 trillion to the national deficit by 2034, contradicting Trump's claims about fiscal responsibility.
The House passed the bill with a narrow vote of 215-214, and it now awaits a Senate vote amid concerns from some Republicans over spending cuts.
Musk's comments represent a significant shift from his previous support of Trump, marking a departure from their previously close collaboration.

Report an issue with this summary