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Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who leads President Donald Trump's project to cut federal spending, has set a goal of reducing government spending by $1 trillion by the end of May.

In an interview with Fox News on the 27th (local time), Musk said, "We will achieve this goal through the Ministry of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within 130 days from January 20, President Trump's inauguration date." It is an ambitious plan to cut more than half of the $1.8 trillion in discretionary spending in the non-defense sector in 2024.

CEO Musk expressed confidence, saying, "We will complete most of the $1 trillion fiscal deficit reduction work within 130 days." DOGE consists of a workforce classified as temporary federal workers, allowing them to work up to 130 days a year.

Musk said he plans to cut 15% of the $6.75 trillion in federal government spending in fiscal 2024. "The amount can be reduced without affecting core government services," he argued.

Musk pointed to waste and fraud in essential spending programs such as Medicare and Social Security, but provided no concrete evidence to support it. According to the Social Security Administration audit, fraudulent payments from 2015 to 2022 amounted to $72 billion, less than 1% of the total payments.

DOGE has been controversial in recent weeks, leading massive layoffs in federal agencies. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a plan to cut 10,000 jobs, and the Ministry of Education said it would cut half of its staff. The Small and Medium Business Administration (SBA) has cut 43%, and the Ministry of Finance has submitted a large-scale reduction plan to the court.

In response, CEO Musk explained, "Almost no one has been fired," but the reduction of manpower has become a reality at various government agencies. Some of the workforce cuts planned by DOGE have been suspended due to sanctions under the law.

The Musk-led federal spending cut plan has short-term efficiency gains goals, but its feasibility is also being questioned. Touching spending such as Medicare and Social Security is not only because of the political burden, but also because much of it is blocked by legal regulations.