Elon Musk says he's getting 'death threats' due to…

Elon Musk, now leading the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has become a central figure in the Trump administration’s aggressive cost-cutting initiatives. His restructuring efforts, aimed at reducing federal spending, have resulted in widespread layoffs and budget reductions across multiple government agencies. While Musk asserts that these measures are essential to prevent financial collapse, his policies have been met with fierce opposition, including mass resignations, legal scrutiny, and even death threats.
As resistance grows, Musk remains steadfast in his mission, claiming that his department has already identified billions in savings. However, significant accounting errors, public backlash, and security threats have cast doubt on the long-term viability of his radical reforms. With President Donald Trump’s unwavering support, Musk continues to wield substantial influence over federal budget policies. But as scrutiny mounts, the future of DOGE—and Musk’s role within the administration—remains uncertain.

Elon Musk, in addition to being the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has taken on the role of a senior adviser to President Trump, focusing on restructuring government spending. His appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was aimed at reducing unnecessary federal expenditures, with Musk promising to find at least $1 trillion in savings—approximately 15% of the U.S. government’s $7 trillion annual budget.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Musk acknowledged the severe backlash against his measures. “I’m taking a lot of flak and getting a lot of death threats, by the way. I can, like, stack them up,” he remarked, according to The Times. “But if we don’t do this, America will go bankrupt. That’s why it has to be done.”
Trump, standing by Musk, downplayed concerns within the administration. “Is anybody unhappy with Elon?” he asked his Cabinet. “If you are, well, throw them out of here,” he joked, drawing laughter and applause.
Despite these reassurances, the implementation of Musk’s cost-cutting policies has led to the dismissal of approximately 100,000 federal employees, many through forced buyouts or layoffs.

Musk’s drastic reforms have sparked widespread resistance, both within the government and from the public. His directive requiring federal employees to submit weekly reports outlining their accomplishments was met with defiance from several top officials.
On February 23, Musk’s team sent an email instructing government workers to submit “approx. five bullets of what you accomplished last week.” Musk later clarified that this was intended as a “pulse check,” not a performance review. While an estimated one million federal employees complied, others resisted.
FBI Director Kash Patel and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard reportedly instructed their staff to ignore the request. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the measure, stating, “It’s a very simple idea when you think about it. All this administration is asking for is five bullet points of what federal workers, who live off the American taxpayers’ dime, have done in the previous week.”
As tensions rise, Musk has also faced increasing security threats. Last week, a man identified as David Cherry from Palmyra, Indiana, was arrested for posting threats against Musk on social media platform X, which Musk owns. Authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, and a ballistic vest in Cherry’s possession. He has since been charged with intimidation.

One of the primary justifications for Musk’s aggressive budget cuts has been the projected financial savings. However, the accuracy of these figures has come under scrutiny. Initially, DOGE reported $16.6 billion in savings, but this was later revised down to $9.6 billion due to errors in accounting.
Among the most significant miscalculations was an $8 billion “saving” attributed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Upon investigation, it was revealed that ICE’s entire budget is approximately $8 billion, meaning the actual cut should have been $8 million. This erroneous figure was quietly removed from DOGE’s public “wall of receipts.”
Another disputed claim involved a supposed $1.9 billion Treasury Department cut, which was later revealed to be the cancellation of a contract initiated under the Biden administration. Additionally, three separate USAID budget cuts, each valued at $655 million, were mistakenly counted three times instead of once.
Despite these corrections, DOGE has since increased its claimed savings to $65 billion—an apparent contradiction given the removal of erroneous figures. The White House has provided little clarification, stating only that Musk’s initiative has “identified billions of dollars in savings.”

Musk’s policies have triggered a wave of resignations among federal staff. On Tuesday, over 20 high-ranking officials resigned in protest, stating they could not “use their expertise to dismantle critical public services.” These departures have only fueled further criticism of DOGE’s restructuring efforts.
Nevertheless, President Trump has remained unwavering in his support of Musk, dismissing concerns about the consequences of these cuts. His continued backing of Musk suggests that the administration views these measures as a necessary step toward long-term fiscal sustainability, despite the growing opposition.

Beyond budget cuts, Musk has also pledged to overhaul outdated government technology systems. At the Cabinet meeting, he referred to himself as the government’s “tech support,” highlighting efforts to modernize federal computing infrastructure.
“President Trump has put together the best Cabinet ever. And I do not give false praise. This is an incredible group of people. I don’t think such a talented team has ever been assembled,” Musk stated.
While the modernization efforts are ongoing, the broader impact of DOGE’s initiatives remains uncertain.