Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Blasts DOGE's Mass Firings, Says Musk-Led Cuts Are Like Using A Sledgehammer Instead Of A Scalpel

On Wednesday, Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak criticized the Department of Government Efficiency's or DOGE approach to mass layoffs, calling its sweeping federal workforce cuts a reckless strategy that lacks precision.

What Happened: During an interview with CNBC, Wozniak expressed concerns over DOGE's aggressive cost-cutting tactics, which have resulted in thousands of federal employees losing their jobs.

“Mass firings — not good for a business to run that way,” he stated, suggesting that instead of indiscriminate cuts, DOGE should approach workforce reductions "more surgically, with a scalpel instead of a sledgehammer."

See Also: Elon Musk’s Influence Under Scrutiny As Senate Votes To Block CFPB’s Digital Payments Oversight, Sparks Conflict-Of Interest Probe

The Apple co-founder has previously also criticized Tesla Inc. and found himself at odds with Elon Musk.

While the White House maintains that Musk does not officially lead DOGE, President Donald Trump mentioned during his address on Tuesday that "DOGE is headed by Elon Musk," reinforcing the widespread belief that he is the driving force behind the agency.

DOGE's mass layoffs have sparked controversy. The agency's actions have also prompted legal challenges, with Trump's latest comments being flagged in an ongoing lawsuit against DOGE.

Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.

Why It Matters: Wozniak is not the only prominent business figure speaking out against DOGE. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has also taken to Bluesky and said that the agency's cuts will "inevitably" create chaos, calling its approach "not so brilliant."

On the other hand, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has expressed support for the idea of cutting wasteful spending but has also highlighted the chaos and legal challenges that DOGE’s methods have introduced.

DOGE is also said to have saved $65 billion. However, experts have labeled these statements as “smoke and mirrors” amid a wave of resignations.

Check out more of Benzinga’s Consumer Tech coverage by following this link.

Read Next:

• Russell Vought Orders Pause On All CFPB Activity, Critics Say This Gives Corporations ‘The Green Light To Scam Families'

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock