Elon Musk Departs DOGE -- Leaves Washington After Criticizing Trump's Big Beautiful Bill

Elon Musk left Washington on May 30, 2025, following his offboarding from DOGE. The departure came after Musk criticized the "Big Beautiful Bill" in a CBS interview on May 27, arguing it increased the deficit and undermined DOGE's work. In an Oval Office sendoff the same day, Trump said Musk was "not really leaving" the White House. Musk was accompanied out by lieutenant Steve Davis, top adviser Katie Miller, and general counsel James Burnham. Within days, a Trump-Musk feud erupted on social media, with Trump saying at a Michigan rally: "Maybe it's time he went back to where he came from." Musk had led DOGE since January as its unofficial head -- a federal judge had found him to be the de facto leader, likely needing Senate confirmation under the Appointments Clause.