https://www.axios.com/2025/05/30/doge-elon-musk-savings-big-beautiful-blill

Updated May 30, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Elon Musk's DOGE savings dwarfed by deficit-ballooning Trump bill

• Neal Rothschild

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Chart: Axios Visuals

Elon Musk bemoaned President Trump's signature legislative effort in an interview with CBS News this week, saying he was "disappointed to see the massive spending bill," which is projected to add trillions to budget deficits.

Why it matters: Musk and his businesses were walloped by backlash to his leadership of DOGE. Now the fruit of those efforts — more government savings — are at risk of being washed away by Trump's "One, Big Beautiful Bill."

The big picture: Elon Musk claims that his DOGE team saved $175 billion in taxpayer spending, though an outside analysis estimates the verified savings are closer to $16 billion.

• The "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which passed the House last week, is projected to add $3 trillion to 5 trillion to budget deficits over the next 10 years.
• Even using Musk's most generous estimate, those DOGE savings would amount to just 6% of the projected increase to the deficit from the bill.

Between the lines: The primary driver of deficits in the bill is the extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which Republicans aim to partially offset with cuts to Medicaid, green energy tax breaks and other programs.

• The bill also includes significant new spending on border security and the military.

• The White House argues the bill will reduce the deficit by $1.6 trillion, claiming that tax cut extensions shouldn't count as new costs — and that Trump's policies will supercharge economic growth.

Go deeper: Elon Musk leaves legacy of self-destruction at DOGE

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the GOP's spending bill passed the House last week, not this week.

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Go deeper

• Rebecca Falconer

May 27, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Musk "disappointed" in Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

Elon Musk at the White House in March. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk said President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" "undermines" DOGE's cost-cutting, per an excerpt of CBS News' interview with the businessman that was released Tuesday.

Why it matters: Musk has been a key Trump ally during the president's second term after donating millions of dollars to his 2024 election campaign, leading efforts to reduce government spending until the Tesla CEO stepped back from DOGE after the EV firm's sales took a hit from his close ties to the administration.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

• Avery Lotz

Updated May 29, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Musk's real DOGE legacy will be decided by courts long after his departure

Elon Musk wears a black "Make America Great Again" ball cap while attending a campaign rally with Donald Trump on Oct. 5, 2024. in Butler, Pa.(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Elon Musk's DOGE days are over — but the bruise on his reputation and a legacy wrapped in ongoing litigation remain.

The big picture: DOGE-driven cuts wreaked havoc on federal workers, prompting a litany of lawsuits seeking to rein in Musk's chainsaw. As the billionaire departs, judges across the country could still unravel key parts of the effort for which he became the face.

Go deeper (2 min. read)