“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary defended tech billionaire Elon Musk on Monday evening, saying he thinks the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should make even more cuts to government spending.
O’Leary joined a CNN panel discussion to discuss the ongoing cuts to federal programs and the civil workforce, which has sparked widespread concern.
“I don’t think he’s doing enough. He’s not cutting enough. We should cut more, 20 percent more,” he said. “It’s all fat. It’s waste.”
“There’s so much waste in federal government. This is great for the American people,” the investor added.
Within President Trump’s first month back in the White House, the administration said DOGE has saved the American public $55 billion through a combination of efforts, namely a reduction in the federal workforce.
The moves have been viewed as controversial, however, as DOGE officials have gained access to payment systems at various departments and agencies, looking to slash spending. Many have also sounded the alarm about Musk seemingly having unchecked power and access to confidential and sensitive information, even as an unelected member of Trump’s team.
While he was tapped to lead DOGE, the White House and president have insisted the tech billionaire is not part of the advisory group, which continues to oust federal workers.
The Trump administration has offered buyouts to federal workers and as of Feb. 13, roughly 77,000 people took the offer.
Musk over the weekend sent out an email to the federal workforce asking them to respond with a list of their weekly accomplishments, which he said was meant to spot “outright fraud” from those on the payroll that do little work. He sent a second warning on Monday, saying those who do not reply could be fired. The move led to some backlash, and even the White House seemed to take a step back.
Still, O’Leary has argued in favor of DOGE cutting back on the budget. He said the Trump administration should take advantage of the “24-month mandate” they have before the 2026 midterm elections, when Republicans could lose majorities in both the House and Senate.
The businessman said he loves what Musk is doing but wants to see more, echoing a sentiment the president made over the weekend.
“Federal government is fat, dripping with fat, 100 years of never being scrutinized, never being examined, never looking for any inefficiencies,” O’Leary said. “Finally, here’s an individual that’s willing to do it for free, with extremely great executional skills and people are uncomfortable? Don’t worry about it.”
