Kevin O’Leary says Elon Musk’s DOGE isn’t ‘whacking enough’ and the cuts aren’t happening ‘fast enough’ — despite intense criticism of its recent actions. Do you agree?

Since Trump’s inauguration many federal employees have been laid off, and DOGE has moved to curb government spending in a flurry of actions, including the attempted freezing of trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the freeze.

The IRS has announced plans to lay off thousands of probationary workers smack in the middle of tax season, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — a watchdog agency created after the 2008 financial crisis — has been forced to effectively shutter.

And these are just some examples.

The events of the past few weeks have left many Americans alarmed. But entrepreneur and Shark Tank personality Kevin O’Leary thinks DOGE could actually be doing more.

"The issue is, they're not whacking enough," he said.

Is he right?

There’s a lot of fat to trim

While many Americans and political leaders alike are worried about the impact of DOGE's actions, O'Leary thinks there's more work to be done, and that it should be done more quickly.

During a recent appearance on CNN, O'Leary compared what's happening with the federal government to a private equity takeover.

He explained that when distressed companies are taken over, the cuts often exceed initial projections, and that that's a good thing, because it tends to make the organization work more efficiently.

"All of these agencies are like big fat chickens dripping over barbecues of fat," O'Leary. "If they can't show you that they're adding value, you whack."

The problem, though, is that a lot of the federal employees being let go, and a lot of the programs being cut, serve the purpose of helping Americans in one way or another. It’s true that there may be fat to trim. But O’Leary’s suggestion to “keep slashing” has the potential to hurt the public.

How federal cuts could hurt Americans’ finances

The fact that the IRS is slashing jobs during tax season means filers may have a harder time contacting the agency for support. Even without cuts, the IRS is notorious for long wait times.

There could also be fewer employees available to conduct audits. And while it can be argued that that's a good thing, it's most likely to benefit wealthy taxpayers who tend to skirt the rules and underreport income.