Elon Musk has launched the Department of Government Efficiency to recommend spending cuts, pointing out examples of what he deems as wasteful spending. Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, shared posts on his X platform criticizing research projects funded by the United States government, such as studies on “transgender” monkeys, cats on treadmills, and “alcoholic rats” sprayed with bobcat urine. Musk expressed his disapproval of these projects, calling them not only a waste of money but also “outright evil.” He aims for the federal government to slash at least $2 trillion, which is nearly 30 percent of the US government’s 2024 expenditures.
Former President Trump appointed Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead this initiative, setting a deadline of July 4, 2026, to identify cuts. However, Congress holds the final authority in making spending decisions. Musk’s criticisms align with those made by Republican Senator Rand Paul in his annual “Festivus” reports on government spending. Many of the projects Musk highlighted have been ongoing for years, involving research institutions studying animals to address health issues in humans.
For instance, the $33.2 million supposedly spent on “transgender monkey research” was actually funding a study on monkeys’ susceptibility to HIV. The $4.5 million allocated to spraying alcoholic rats with bobcat urine aimed to understand alcoholism in individuals with PTSD. Similarly, the $2.7 million study on cats on treadmills focused on spinal cord therapies for humans. Despite the social media backlash, experts in medical research defend these projects, emphasizing their potential to advance knowledge and improve healthcare outcomes.