Elon Musk Criticizes Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Program Amid Federal Spending Reduction Efforts
A new wave of criticism has emerged against Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. Known for his ventures in Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to highlight what he sees as inefficiencies in U.S. military spending.
On November 26, Musk openly criticized the F-35 program, stating, “Some US weapons systems are good, albeit overpriced, but please, in the name of all that is holy, let us stop the worst military value for money in history that is the F-35 program!” The defense project is projected to cost the U.S. government more than $2 trillion over its life span, according to Defense News.
Musk, alongside fellow billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, is set to play a pivotal role in President-elect Donald Trump’s new initiative to curb federal spending. As leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk and Ramaswamy aim to make significant cuts to governmental expenditures, starting with $500 billion in spending not authorized by Congress, as detailed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Highlighting alternatives to traditional military hardware, Musk shared a video on November 24 showing a swarm of drones from China, captioning it, “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.” He further criticized the jet’s design on November 25, stating, “The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people… And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway.”
Despite Musk’s harsh critique, the F-35 program remains a cornerstone of defense manufacturing in Fort Worth, Texas, supporting over 49,000 jobs and contributing $9.4 billion annually to the local economy. The U.S. Government Accountability Office emphasizes its importance to national security, even as the program struggles with production issues and escalating costs, as noted in various reports.
Lockheed Martin has expressed its intention to work constructively with the new administration. “As we did in his first term, we look forward to a strong working relationship with President Trump, his team, and also with the new Congress to strengthen our national defense,” the company stated.
Incoming U.S. Representative Craig Goldman, a Republican from Fort Worth, has voiced his support for the F-35 program, emphasizing its strategic importance in conflicts such as the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. “I’m going to fight like hell to make sure those cuts aren’t made,” he asserted, highlighting that any significant changes would require Congressional approval.
