The White House has confirmed that its federal spending reduction efforts will carry on, despite Elon Musk stepping down from his government advisory role. Musk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), recently announced that he would shift his focus back to his private companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed gratitude for Musk’s involvement. She acknowledged his role in launching the cost-cutting initiative and stressed that the campaign against waste, fraud, and unnecessary government expenses would not slow down.
Although Musk praised Trump for trusting him with the task, he expressed concerns about a newly passed spending bill championed by the president. Known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” the legislation includes tax breaks and budget cuts, but Musk warned it could worsen the national deficit. In an interview with CBS, he said he was “disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly.”
Musk also revealed he would reduce his political donations after contributing nearly $250 million to Trump’s election efforts. His decision marks a shift away from active political involvement, even as his influence on government policy remains notable.
While Musk steps back, the White House remains committed to trimming federal expenditures and pushing forward with the reforms he helped launch.
