In a rare public disagreement with President Donald Trump, tech billionaire Elon Musk has criticized the administration's signature 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act', expressing disappointment over its potential impact on the federal deficit and government efficiency efforts.

Musk, who served as a senior adviser to Trump and led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), voiced his concerns in an interview with CBS News set to air on Sunday. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' Musk stated [1].

The bill, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives last week, includes a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Critics, including Musk, argue it could add up to $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade [8].

Musk's comments mark a significant shift in his relationship with Trump, whom he supported during the 2024 election campaign with reported contributions of at least $250 million [36]. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has recently scaled back his involvement in government work, citing a need to focus on his companies [3].

President Trump responded to Musk's criticism on Wednesday, defending the bill while acknowledging potential changes. 'We will be negotiating that bill, and I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it,' Trump told reporters [46].

The public disagreement has fueled speculation about a growing rift between Musk and the Trump administration. It comes as the White House reportedly prepares to send a $9.4 billion rescissions package to Congress next week, aiming to enact some of the cuts proposed by DOGE [42].

House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled Republican readiness to act on DOGE's recommendations, stating, 'The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE's findings so we can deliver even more cuts to big government that President Trump wants and the American people demand' [50].

As the bill moves to the Senate, where major changes are expected, the debate over government spending and efficiency is likely to intensify. The outcome could have significant implications for the U.S. economy and the political landscape heading into the next election cycle.