In a post on X, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller seemed to give a veiled response to Elon Musk’s comments criticizing the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” saying that codifying the DOGE cuts would “have to be done through what is known as a rescissions package or an appropriations bill,” not through reconciliation.
“The Big Beautiful Bill is NOT an annual budget bill and does not fund the departments of government. It does not finance our agencies or federal programs. Instead, it includes the single largest welfare reform in American history,” Miller said in the post.
Musk said in a CBS News interview out Tuesday that he is “disappointed” with the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” Musk said that the bill increases the budget deficit and “undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
Elon Musk listens as reporters ask President Donald Trump and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa questions during a press availability in the Oval Office at the White House, May 21, 2025 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Files
Miller swatted back, claiming that the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” reduces the deficit. That is contrary to a CBO report that said the act would increase the federal deficit over the next 10 years.
ABC News asked the White House for a more direct response to Musk’s comments.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart