Government shutdown would help Elon Musk
Musk and the nonessential workforce: Why the shutdown isn’t a preference for Musk, but he is a box in there by the president
Musk has spoken about removing so-called nonessential workers—many of whom perform critical tasks like inspecting food, processing applications for benefits programs, and collecting weather data—before. “If the job is not essential, or they are not doing it well, they obviously shouldn’t be on the public payroll,” Musk told reporters in late February, according to The New Yorker.
“A shutdown has been his preference,” says one Republican familiar with the situation, referring to Musk. “I think he’s boxed in there by the president. It would be hard for him to get around that.
A Republican who is familiar with the behind the scenes push from Musk said, “none of this is about saving money, right?” “It’s all about destroying a liberal power base.”
The Uncanny Valley Podcast: What Happens If the Government is Shutdown and DOE DOE is Slashed, and Where Should We Go?
The possible shutdown looms as Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has slashed its way through the government, eliminating the positions of an estimated tens of thousands of workers. Many federal agencies and programs would be put on ice if there is a government shutdown. Agencies like the FBI and others with law enforcement and security functions would largely continue to operate as normal—albeit with some government workers not being paid until after the end of the shutdown—and critical functions like the issuance of Social Security checks would not be directly affected. Every department has a shutdown plan, though, and most would be impacted.
Federal personnel costs, including military spending, amount to about $340 billion annually, so even laying off all of the third or so of federal workers considered nonessential could possibly save about $110 billion a year—a fraction of the $1 trillion in annual federal spending Musk has claimed he wants to eliminate.
The senior editor of WIRED joins the Global Editorial Director to explain what would happen if Musk were to want a government shutdown. Plus, WIRED’s Emily Mullin joins for an update on misinformation surrounding the latest measles outbreaks in the United States.
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You can follow Katie Drummond on Bluesky at @katie-drummond, Leah Feiger on Bluesky at @leahfeiger, and Emily Mullin on Bluesky at @emilymullin. We will be in touch at [email protected].
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