Elon Musk has acknowledged his disagreements with the administration of President Donald Trump regarding his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressing frustration over feeling “stuck in a bind.”

In an interview with CBS News, recorded before stepping down as DOGE head, Musk explained his predicament: “It’s tough to bring up in an interview because it creates friction. I’m caught in a situation where I don’t want to openly criticize the administration, but I also don’t want to be held accountable for everything it does. So, I’m kind of stuck.” The full interview is set to air on June 1.

While Musk admitted to broadly supporting the administration’s policies, he highlighted key differences of opinion, particularly regarding a proposed bill to cut government spending—dubbed “a big, beautiful bill” by President Trump. Offering his own take, Musk remarked, “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I’m not sure it can be both.”

Departure and DOGE’s Future

On Wednesday, Musk confirmed on his X account that his tenure as a special government employee had ended but expressed optimism that DOGE would continue to grow in influence.

In April, he had already signaled plans to reduce his involvement in the agency starting in May. The announcement followed Tesla’s report of a 71% decline in net income for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. Analysts partly attributed this financial setback to the impact of Musk’s political role as DOGE’s head, which may have influenced investor confidence.

Musk’s departure and ongoing reflections continue to spark debate over the intersection of business and politics, as well as DOGE’s evolving role in government efficiency.