Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced his intention to help reduce the size of the U.S. government by cutting federal agencies if he is offered a role in a potential Donald Trump administration. Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump, made this pledge during an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s online show, which was broadcast from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on election day.
Musk, who initially declared a neutral political stance, publicly endorsed Trump after a July assassination attempt on the former president and has since become a significant backer. Trump, in turn, has promised to establish a “Department of Government Efficiency,” or “DOGE,” with Musk at its helm, tasked with streamlining federal operations should he win the election.
Discussing his vision with Carlson, Musk cited an overgrown bureaucracy and redundant agency responsibilities as a costly burden on U.S. taxpayers. “I’d be happy to help improve government efficiency,” Musk stated. “We’ve got a gigantic government bureaucracy, we’ve got overregulation, we’ve got agencies with overlapping responsibilities… this translates into real costs to people, they’re hidden costs but they are very substantial.”
Musk has backed his political views with financial support, reportedly donating at least $118 million to a Trump-affiliated political action committee. Last month, Musk spoke at a Trump rally, pledging to help cut annual federal spending by “at least $2 trillion” through a comprehensive review of federal agencies.
With repeated warnings about the national debt, Musk has cautioned that, without drastic spending reductions, the U.S. risks spiraling toward bankruptcy. He emphasized the importance of a “Department of Government Efficiency” in reining in wasteful spending, framing it as an essential step to safeguard the country’s financial future.
