Kevin O’Leary Watching DOGE Rise and Begging Elon to Keep Pushing!

Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary is making it clear—he thinks the government hasn’t cut enough. Defending the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the investor urged officials to slash spending even more than they already have.

His remarks come as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a major rollback—cutting $660 million from the Local Food for Schools program and another $420 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement. These initiatives helped schools buy fresh produce directly from farmers. But according to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, they were simply “not necessary.”

The decision has sparked backlash, but O’Leary isn’t backing down. He believes the government needs to go even further.

O’Leary: “Cut 20% More”

Speaking on CNN NewsNight, O’Leary didn’t mince words.

“This issue is not going to go away because it’s very contentious, but when you cut in any organization, government or private, it’s very demoralizing. It’s traumatic, and it gets lots of bad press as we’re doing right now. But that’s why you cut 20% more,” he said.

O’Leary went on to argue that budget cuts should be handled the same way they are in private business.

“I think Elon is not cutting enough. Cut 20% more. Now get your spreadsheet out. These are the names. Whack everybody and then 20% more, as we do in the private sector every day and have done for 100 years in private equity.”

His comments sent shockwaves through the panel, with fellow guests pushing back against the idea of stripping more funding from schools. Host Abby Phillip pressed him on why DOGE wasn’t focusing cuts elsewhere.

O’Leary Doubles Down

Despite criticism, O’Leary remained firm.

“You can criticize where it goes first. They’re going to focus their laser on every sector, and it’s going to keep going, and it’s going to remain contentious,” he responded.

His stance aligns with his broader economic views. O’Leary has been vocal in supporting former President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and has recently become more involved in political discussions.

Businessman Turned Political Player

Once known purely as an investor, O’Leary has been blurring the lines between business and politics. Last year, he launched his own venture capital firm, O’Leary Ventures, more than 15 years after making his Shark Tank debut.

As government spending debates intensify, O’Leary’s call for aggressive cuts is sure to keep stirring controversy. But whether his “whack everybody” approach gains traction remains to be seen.