OMB Director Russell Vought responds to Elon Musk's criticisms of Trump's mega-bill

Fiscal Policy & Budget Bill Overview - The Senate passed a budget bill with Vice President Vance's tie-breaking vote, now heading back to the House [1][2] - The administration aims to get the bill to President Trump's desk by the end of the week, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the President's timeline [2][3] - The bill represents the entirety of the first year's agenda for the President, marking a significant step forward not seen in 30 years [9] Disagreement on Fiscal Impact - The Committee for Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill will add over $4 trillion to the national debt through 2034, exceeding the House-passed bill by $1 trillion [4] - The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) argues that external fiscal watchdogs are using artificial baselines by not assuming current tax relief [4][5] - Critics, including Elon Musk and some Republican lawmakers, express concerns that the bill will balloon the deficit and increase the debt [7][8] Mandatory Savings & Deficit Reduction - The bill includes $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings, which the OMB claims more than offsets additional tax relief and spending, resulting in net deficit reduction [6] - The $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings is described as historic, more than doubling the $800 billion seen in 1997 [6] - The administration emphasizes the bill's fiscal responsibility, citing border security, defense spending, and tax relief [9]