Musk wields chainsaw onstage at CPAC, touting DOGE cuts

Tech billionaire Elon Musk joined the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) stage Thursday wielding a chainsaw, underscoring his efforts to slash the federal budget and workforce through President Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency panel.

Dressed in a black "Make America Great Again" hat and sunglasses and chain, Musk walked on stage and was joined shortly after by Argentine President Javier Milei, who gave him a black chainsaw that the DOGE leader held up as the crowd cheered.

When Musk held the chainsaw up, he screamed, "This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy."

Milei, who rose to prominence in Argentina with a vow to shake up the country's government and economy, often wields a chainsaw at political events, emblematic of his mission to cut large swaths of his country's federal government.

Milei has reportedly been an inspiration behind DOGE, which has set up shop in various federal agencies in what the Trump administration frames as efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the government.

Musk is facing mounting criticism for DOGE's efforts, especially those that have led to mass layoffs of federal workers, closures of entire independent agencies and access to sensitive information. Several lawsuits have been filed contesting the layoffs and the access to federal government databases.

DOGE's website earlier this week claimed it found $55 billion in savings.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is listed as the top saving where DOGE found total contract savings and contract savings as a percentage of the federal government, accounting for about $6.5 billion in savings. Musk and his DOGE team quickly worked to dismantle the agency, which provides food to those in need around the world, in his first month leading the effort.

The Trump administration also offered a buyout to federal workers, leading to 75,000 people opting to take it so far.

Topics

Musk wields his Doge chainsaw - but is a backlash brewing?

Facing constituents angry about the impact of sweeping government job cuts, some Republicans are expressing concern.
BBC News - 2h
Musk boasts federal cuts by hoisting chainsaw at conference

Elon Musk drives home his rapid shredding of the federal government by hoisting a chainsaw representing the slashing of jobs and spending during a conference. Some Republicans are facing pushback ...
NBC News - 8h
Musk boasts federal cuts by hoisting chainsaw at conference

Elon Musk drives home his rapid shredding of the federal government by hoisting a chainsaw representing the slashing of jobs and spending during a conference. Some Republicans are facing pushback ...
NBC News - 8h
Georgia Republican faces town hall backlash over DOGE's 'chainsaw approach' to federal cuts

Rep. Rich McCormick, who represents a safe GOP district, came under harsh criticism that focused on the Trump administration’s moves to slash federal jobs and budgets.
NBC News - 16h
Grassley on Musk's DOGE cuts: 'Congress can’t do anything except complain'

Politico - 3d
Elon Musk waves 'bureaucracy chainsaw' gifted by Argentina

Argentina's president gifted Elon Musk a chainsaw to symbolise cuts to bureaucracy.
BBC News - 17h
5 takeaways from Musk's CPAC talk

Elon Musk served as one of the main attractions at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday evening with a late-scheduled appearance that saw him wield a chainsaw and discuss ...
The Hill - 19h
Elon Musk becomes a new power center at CPAC

Elon Musk stole the show at CPAC, a surprise guest who wielded a chainsaw to symbolize his government cuts.
NBC News - 4h
Johnson plays down DOGE checks at CPAC

Politico - 1d
Bannon’s Salute at CPAC, Echoing Musk, Prompts a French Protest

Jordan Bardella, the president of France’s far-right National Rally, canceled his planned speech at the conference, saying the gesture referred to “Nazi ideology.”
The New York Times - 6m