Mark Cuban has pushed back after an old video resurfaced showing him advocating for a reducing the size of government—just as he criticizes Elon Musk's drastic cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE.
What Happened: A user on X posted a 2017 video of Cuban supporting the idea of cutting the size of the government by "at least a third" and boosting operational efficiency.
The user pointed to what they saw as a contradiction in Cuban's current opposition to Musk's federal cuts.
Cuban, however, was quick to respond.
"I am all for cutting gov costs, then and now. I’m even more for efficiency," he wrote in a detailed reply. "I would have a plan. Ready, Fire, Aim is not a plan."
The billionaire entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" star added that the issue isn't about whether government cuts should happen, but how they're executed.
"Cutting programs without knowing if they would have saved taxpayers more than they cost, or saved lives, is a mistake," Cuban continued.
"What do you think happens to home values? What services will they have to end? What about the local businesses?" he asked. "Cut federal government bloat in an organized fashion and it’s great. Ready Fire Aim and the uncertainty it creates is a huge mistake."
Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It's Important: Cuban's remarks highlight growing concern over the real-world impact of Musk's rapid-fire reforms under DOGE.
Last week, Musk compared his efforts to former President Barack Obama’s 2011 Campaign to Cut Waste, sparking a social media debate.
Musk’s team has sought access to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s payment systems, raising concerns among officials. Musk has criticized the Treasury’s system, suggesting it leads to significant federal waste.
Critics, including Steve Wozniak, have voiced concerns over DOGE’s approach. Wozniak likened the mass layoffs to using a sledgehammer instead of a scalpel.
On the other hand, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has voiced support for reducing unnecessary spending but has also pointed out the legal complications and disorder resulting from DOGE's approach.
Although DOGE is said to have saved $65 billion, experts remain skeptical, dismissing these assertions as mere illusions, especially in light of the recent wave of resignations.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link.
Read Next:
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
