‘My scheduled time comes to an end’: Elon Musk exits Donald Trump’s administration after criticising president’s ‘big beautiful bill’

Elon Musk on Thursday announced that he is stepping down from his role as a top adviser to US President Donald Trump, concluding his tenure as a special government employee tasked with leading a high-profile push to streamline federal bureaucracy.Taking to X, he wrote, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump 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.”A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Musk’s exit. Musk’s departure follows closely on the heels of his public criticism of Trump’s signature legislative proposal, a sweeping tax and immigration bill the president has dubbed his “big beautiful bill.”Musk, speaking Tuesday night to CBS, described the legislation as a “massive spending bill.” “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”