This came in response to the Biden administration’s proposal for an additional $20 billion in IRS funding. Musk, co-leader of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) under President-elect Donald Trump, posted a poll on X (formerly Twitter), offering four options for the IRS’s future budget: “Increased,” “Same,” “Decreased,” and “Deleted.”
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Elon Musk’s provocative poll on X
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), ignited a digital firestorm when he asked his followers whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should be “deleted.” Musk’s poll, posted on December 6, 2024, presented four options for the agency’s budget: “Increased,” “Same,” “Decreased,” or “Deleted.” The results were striking, with over 60% of respondents voting to “delete” the IRS’s budget, while 29.9% favored reducing it. Only 5.6% supported an increase, and 3.9% opted for keeping it the same.
Musk’s post came a day after US Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo urged Congress to allocate an additional $20 billion to the IRS to sustain its operations and enforcement efforts. Adeyemo warned that without the funds, the IRS might face setbacks, including halting hiring and reduced enforcement capabilities by fiscal year 2025.
IRS funding
The debate over IRS funding is deeply tied to broader political and economic issues. The Biden-Harris administration has emphasized the need for increased IRS resources to improve tax enforcement and close loopholes that benefit the wealthy and large corporations. Adeyemo claimed that without the additional $20 billion, the U.S. could miss out on $140 billion in tax revenues, exacerbating the national deficit.
On the other hand, congressional Republicans have pushed for significant IRS budget cuts. This includes a $20 billion enforcement reduction, included in stopgap legislation passed in September 2024 to keep the federal government funded through December. Critics of increased IRS funding argue that the agency already wields excessive power and resources.
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Musk’s stance on government spending
As the co-leader of the informal Department of Government Efficiency under the upcoming Trump administration, Musk has pledged to slash federal spending. In his December 6 post, he criticized the IRS’s budget demands and aligned himself with conservative calls for fiscal restraint. Musk and fellow co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy plan to reduce federal expenditures by at least $2 trillion during the new administration, targeting bloated programs and inefficiencies.
Public and expert reactions
Musk’s comments have drawn a mixed response. Supporters praised his willingness to question government spending, while critics accused him of undermining a critical institution responsible for funding public services. Experts like Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, argued that the IRS’s enforcement funding is essential for equitable tax collection and fiscal health. She warned against rescinding funds that could improve tax compliance and reduce the deficit.
Treasury Department officials echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the IRS’s role in collecting over $5.1 trillion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2024, distributing federal refunds, and enforcing tax laws. They argue that the agency’s ability to perform these functions could be severely compromised without sufficient funding.
