Musk said nearly no one was fired, most left voluntarily

On March 27, 2025, Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), joined seven key team members for an exclusive group interview on Fox News‘ “Special Report” with Bret Baier, aired just before March 28, 2025.

In this appearance, Musk outlined DOGE’s goal to cut federal spending by $1 trillion, about 15% of the budget, equating to $4 billion daily over 130 days from Trump’s January 20, 2025, inauguration through May, without affecting critical services.

Musk and the team, including Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, emphasized eliminating waste, fraud, and inefficiency, with Musk citing the excess of 4.6 million federal credit cards for 2.3-2.4 million employees as an example.

They envisioned a modern government like an “Apple Store,” streamlined, user-friendly, and technologically advanced, such as digitizing the federal retirement system.

Addressing criticism over cuts and layoffs, Musk claimed almost no one was fired, with most departures voluntary, defending their cautious yet bold approach and promising to fix mistakes quickly.

On sensitive issues like Social Security, they assured increased benefits for legitimate recipients while targeting fraud, with Musk dismissing legal challenges to DOGE’s authority and calling some judges “corrupt.”

This interview, a strategic effort to shift public perception amid backlash from Democrats and federal workers, marked the first time multiple DOGE members, like Steve Davis managing daily operations, spoke together, justifying their controversial cost-cutting mission to protect future generations’ financial health.