Elon Musk Breaks with Trump Over Massive Spending in 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'

WASHINGTON D.C. — On May 22, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" with a 215–214 vote, advancing a key piece of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. The bill introduces a temporary $4,000 tax deduction for seniors aged 65 and older, applies from 2025 through 2028, and targets individuals with incomes below $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. Despite this relief, it falls short of eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, a campaign promise constrained by budget reconciliation rules that prohibit direct changes to Social Security funding.

“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,” Elon Musk told CBS in a broadcast interview on “CBS Sunday Morning.” Musk, who recently stepped back from leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed concern over the fiscal direction of the legislation, which is projected to increase the deficit by $3.8 trillion by 2034 according to the Congressional Budget Office.

While the tax provisions grant temporary relief, the bill offsets its cost through deep cuts to major social programs. Medicaid faces projected reductions of $700 billion, including the implementation of work requirements for able-bodied adults under 65 and a $1 million cap on home equity eligibility for long-term care. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is set to lose $300 billion over ten years, a shift expected to disproportionately affect low-income households. Medicare could see $500 billion in automatic cuts through sequestration rules under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act.

Musk’s comments place him at odds with Trump, who has consistently promoted the bill as a revitalization of his 2017 tax cuts and a driver of economic growth. The legislation also includes expanded work requirements, increased border security funding, and a rollback of clean energy tax credits. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion.”

In addition to legislative actions, Trump has signed executive orders aimed at reducing prescription drug prices and improving price transparency. Yet, the rollback of programs such as Medicare drug negotiation, initially enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act, has drawn further scrutiny from policy analysts and health advocates.

The bill also affects other areas of federal support. The Child Tax Credit will increase from $2,000 to $2,500 per child from 2025 through 2028, but the refundable portion is capped at $1,400 per child, reduced from the current $1,700. Eligibility rules tighten, requiring Social Security numbers for all family members, including parents. Section 8 housing and SNAP are additionally impacted by changes in the definition of child dependents, now limited to children under the age of 7 for benefit purposes.

The Congressional Budget Office and nonpartisan watchdogs estimate the combined impact of spending increases and revenue losses to sharply inflate the national deficit. These projections have fueled bipartisan concern over the bill’s long-term consequences for social safety net programs and federal budget stability.

Musk, who played a central role in the early months of the Trump administration through his leadership of DOGE, was known for spearheading cost-cutting audits across federal agencies. His current criticism reflects an ideological split on fiscal discipline and the direction of Trump’s second-term domestic policy strategy.

The bill awaits Senate deliberation, where its sweeping reforms are expected to face stiff opposition and potential revisions.

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