Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, has sharply criticized Elon Musk’s methods in running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the government initiative aimed at reducing administrative costs in the U.S. federal system. Wozniak, speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, compared Musk’s style of cutting costs and firing large numbers of employees to using a “sledgehammer” rather than a “scalpel,” suggesting that government reform should be more measured and strategic.
DOGE was established under President Donald Trump to optimize the efficiency of the federal government, and Musk has led the charge to streamline operations and reduce waste. Musk has defended mass layoffs, arguing at a White House meeting in February that “we want to keep everyone who is essential and doing their job well, otherwise, they should not be on the public payroll.”
However, Wozniak, a longtime critic of Musk’s approach, argued that while eliminating inefficiencies in government is necessary, it should be done with precision, not by indiscriminately cutting jobs. He emphasized that such a “one-size-fits-all” approach is detrimental, stating that businesses need to carefully assess what works and make targeted changes, rather than resorting to mass firings.
In addition to critiquing Musk’s leadership style, Wozniak also expressed concerns about the treatment of Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing both Musk and Trump of bullying in their interactions with the country. Wozniak, who has Ukrainian heritage, described this as “bullying,” likening it to a schoolyard dynamic where the stronger party forces its will on the weaker.
On a more personal note, Wozniak also claimed that he has been banned from Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), following his vocal criticisms of Tesla’s vehicle quality. He alleged that his account has been locked for the past two to three months without violating any platform rules, suggesting that his ban may be a result of his opposition to Musk’s policies.
At the Mobile World Congress, Wozniak also made a broader point about leadership, stating that the skills required to run a business are not always transferable to managing a government. He stressed the importance of negotiation and consensus-building, noting that effective management requires understanding differing viewpoints, rather than acting unilaterally to enact sweeping changes.
In summary, Wozniak’s remarks reflect his growing concerns with Musk’s leadership style, both in business and in government initiatives, calling for a more thoughtful, collaborative approach to organizational change.
Steve Wozniak on Wikimedia by Gage Skidmore CC-BY-SA-2.0
