Elon Musk has formally departed his advisory role with the Trump administration after closing the chapter on his tenure as a Special Government Employee for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX had been leading initiatives that sought to reform the federal bureaucracy and reduce unnecessary government spending.
Musk made his exit on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter), saying he appreciated being able to serve.
"Now that my time as a Special Government Employee is drawing to a close, I want to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the privilege to cut wasteful spending," Musk tweeted.
He continued, "The @DOGE mission will only improve with time as it becomes a way of life across the government."
His resignation came shortly after pointed criticism Musk made of a central part of Trump's legislative agenda.
Speaking to CBS, Musk was critical of the bill frequently referred to by Trump as his "big beautiful bill"—an amalgam of sweeping tax cuts and tighter immigration regulations.
Labeling the plan a "massive spending bill," Musk contended that it goes against DOGE's mission.
"It raises the federal deficit and contradicts the work of DOGE," Musk said.
With a dash of humor, he challenged the nickname given to the bill: "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful. But I don't know if it could be both."
Later, President Trump responded to Musk's comments in a media briefing session in the Oval Office. In the process of defending the intentions of the bill, he acknowledged there were aspects that raised his eyebrows.
"I don't like parts of it, but I love other parts of it," Trump replied, leaving the door open for alterations. "We'll see what happens. It's got a long way to go," he added.
Read also| Watch| Satellite Images Reveal 3-Meter Wide Crater at Pakistan’s Murid Air Base
Read also| Bangladesh Erupts in Protest After Islamist Leader Acquitted of Liberation War Crimes
