Challenges of Cutting the Federal Budget

Cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, as proposed by Elon Musk, faces monumental challenges. The majority of the federal budget is comprised of mandatory spending, which accounts for about 60% and includes essential programs like Social Security and Medicare, making them difficult to alter without significant political backlash. Even if discretionary spending were entirely eliminated, which includes funding for essential services like defense and health, it would still fall short of achieving a balanced budget. This highlights the complexities involved in federal budget management and the political ramifications of drastic spending cuts.