Elon Musk seems to be growing critical of US President Donald Trump as he has expressed scepticism over one of Potus’ policies for the second time. In the latest episode of an apparent rift between the duo, the Tesla CEO has said that Trump’s budget proposal of slashing funding for Nasa is “troubling.”
Musk’s disapproval of Trump’s actions that directly impact his companies comes at a time when reports emerge that the billionaire is set to step back from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency.
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“I am very much in favor of science, but unfortunately cannot participate in NASA budget discussions, due to SpaceX being a major contractor to NASA,” Musk said, adding thatOffice of Management and Budget’s draft budget proposal for Nasa is “troubling”.
The billionaire has also seemed to break from the party line on tariffs, frequently criticising Peter Navarro, a key figure in Trump’s trade policy. This came as the administration imposed broad tariffs on global trade partners, triggering significant market volatility and costing Musk’s Tesla billions in losses.
According to internal documents, the budget cuts will also target research and programs related to the impacts of climate change. If Congress approves the plan, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) funding would be slashed from $485 million to $171 million, effectively gutting a vital component of the agency’s mission.
The proposal to significantly cut NASA’s funding is expected to meet resistance in Congress, which holds the responsibility of finalizing the budget before it goes to the president for approval.
Slashing funds for the agencies has raised concerns about the US’s commitment to addressing climate change and could impede critical research and international climate efforts.
