Musk, hardline U.S. Republicans ramp up attacks on Trump tax-cut and spending bill

Hardline conservative Republicans in the U.S. Senate and billionaire Elon Musk showed no sign of softening opposition to President Donald Trump's tax-cut and spending bill on Wednesday, as they pushed for deeper reductions in government outlays.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday estimated the bill – which would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and step up spending for the military and border security – will add about $2.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion U.S. debt pile.

Another nonpartisan forecaster, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said on Wednesday that when taking interest payments into account the bill's cost could rise to $3 trillion over a decade or to $5 trillion if temporary tax cuts were made permanent.

Musk, the world's richest person who for several months led the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting effort, stepped up his attacks on the measure, joining with Senate Republican deficit hawks who said the version passed by the House of Representatives last month did not sufficiently cut spending.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin criticized the Trump-backed bill as failing to reverse the trajectory of budget deficits and debt.

"A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn't massively grow the deficit," Musk, the largest Republican donor in the 2024 election cycle, said on his X social media platform. "America is in the fast lane to debt slavery."

Top congressional Republicans rejected his criticism and one White House official on Wednesday called the Tesla CEO's moves "infuriating."

Another White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Wednesday said Musk's complaints represented "one disagreement" in an otherwise harmonious relationship, adding that Trump was committed to getting the bill passed despite Musk's stance.

Asked about Musk's message after a White House meeting with Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised Congress would get the legislation over the finish line.

"We're a long ways down this track," Thune said. "The wheels are in motion on this. As I said before, failure is not an option. We will get this done, one way or the other."

Other Senate Republicans downplayed Musk's influence.

"I don't think very many senators are that interested in what Elon has to say. It's amusing. But we're serious policymakers. We have to govern, and so we have to deal with reality," Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota told reporters.

The House-passed bill would reduce the federal government's revenues by $3.67 trillion over a decade, the CBO forecast, while reducing spending by $1.25 trillion.

The measure would also lift the federal government's debt ceiling, a step that lawmakers must take some time this summer or risk a devastating default.

The 1,100-page bill would extend corporate and individual tax cuts passed in 2017 during Trump's first term in office, cancel many green-energy incentives passed by Democratic former President Joe Biden and tighten eligibility for health and food programs for the poor.

It also would fund Trump's crackdown on immigration, adding tens of thousands of border guards and creating the capacity to deport up to 1 million people each year. Regulations on firearm silencers would be loosened.

Democrats blast the bill as disproportionately benefiting the wealthy while cutting benefits for working Americans. The measure is now awaiting action in the Senate.

(With input from Reuters)