As the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump, continues its aggressive wave of federal budget cuts, late-night host Jon Stewart delivered a fiery and impassioned critique on The Daily Show.
Stewart, known for his sharp political commentary, condemned the administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers and called out what he sees as the real sources of government waste.
“We live in the upside down,” Stewart quipped, highlighting what he believes is the hypocrisy of targeting everyday government workers while ignoring corporate greed and tax loopholes.
Mass Layoffs Spark Stewart’s Fury
Stewart took particular issue with the systematic firing of tens of thousands of federal employees across multiple agencies, including:
- Veterans Affairs
- Forest Service
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
These layoffs, justified by Musk and Trump as efforts to “cut government waste,” have raised alarms among federal employees, unions, and economists who fear the long-term impact on public services. Stewart didn’t hold back when addressing the consequences of these cuts:
“You’re laying off the people who actually do the work, while giving billions in subsidies to industries already making obscene profits.”
Jon Stewart’s Alternative Budget Fixes
Instead of cutting jobs that provide essential government services, Stewart offered his own list of places to find real budget savings:
- Eliminate the $3 billion in annual subsidies to profitable oil and gas companies.
- Close the carried interest loophole for hedge funds, worth $1.3 billion a year.
- Reevaluate the $2 trillion spent on developing ineffective fighter jets for the military.
“Everybody knows the next war is going to be fought with drones and blockchain… whatever that is!” Stewart joked.
A Critique of Both Parties
While Stewart’s main target was the Trump administration’s aggressive DOGE cuts, he didn’t spare President Joe Biden’s administration from criticism. He mocked their recent celebration of reducing the price of 10 prescription drugs under Medicare:
“Ten is all of them, right? Because it would be embarrassing if it was just a drop in the bucket!”
The comedian argued that taxpayers have already paid for much of the research behind these drugs through government subsidies and should expect broader reforms.
A Bloody Metaphor for the State of Government Cuts
In a particularly memorable moment, Stewart smashed his “World’s Most Dad” mug in frustration, accidentally cutting his hand in the process. With a blood-soaked cloth wrapped around his fingers, Stewart reassured the audience:
“It’s fine!”
This unexpected injury served as a visceral metaphor for how deeply Stewart believes these policies are harming not just government workers but everyday Americans.
HUD Cuts Could Worsen Housing Crisis
Meanwhile, reports suggest that HUD could be the next major target of DOGE’s cuts, with experts warning of serious consequences:
- Reductions in staffing and funding could disrupt the housing market.
- Mortgage transactions could be delayed or upended entirely.
- Housing affordability could worsen, especially for low-income families.
“You’re not cutting fat, you’re cutting muscle—and we’re all going to feel it,” Stewart warned.
The Bigger Problem: Corporate Subsidies and Taxpayer Abuse
Stewart concluded his monologue by shifting focus from government waste to corporate greed, criticizing the billions of taxpayer dollars given to corporations through subsidies and tax breaks:
“These corporations are profit-seeking psychopaths who need the lowest wages and the cheapest raw materials for their highest profits. But why do we, the taxpayers, subsidize their psychopathy?”
His message was clear: Instead of laying off federal workers, the government should target the true sources of waste—corporate welfare, defense overspending, and tax loopholes exploited by the ultra-wealthy.
