Elon Musk, head of the United States Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has issued a dire warning about the trajectory of the country’s finances, urging immediate and dramatic action to address the soaring national debt. During a town hall event where Musk also distributed $1 million checks as promised, he highlighted that the official U.S. national debt exceeds $30 trillion. He stressed that this figure does not include future obligations or local-level debt, making the real total significantly higher.

“Just like a person can go bankrupt, a country can collectively go bankrupt,” Musk said, likening the national debt crisis to individual insolvency. He explained that such a scenario unfolds when a government continues spending without restraint, ultimately diluting its currency to the point of worthlessness. “Eventually there won’t be any money for anything—we’ll just be paying interest,” he warned.

Musk’s comments came during a live event aimed at public engagement and policy awareness. The Tesla CEO and now senior government official emphasized that the time for minor adjustments is over. “We need immediate, dramatic action,” he insisted, pointing to uncontrolled government spending as the root of long-term fiscal instability.

The national debt has been a contentious issue in U.S. politics, but Musk’s stark framing raised the stakes, equating the risk to national financial ruin. His remarks add pressure on lawmakers to consider sweeping reforms to federal budget planning, entitlement programs, and debt servicing obligations before the situation becomes irreversible.

Critics argue that fears about debt must be weighed against the need for strategic investment in infrastructure, defense, and social programs. However, Musk cautioned that failing to act now would lead to severe consequences for future generations, who may inherit a system strained to the breaking point.

As Musk continues to merge his role as a high-profile entrepreneur and public official, his warnings on debt highlight an urgent call for bipartisan cooperation to confront what he described as a looming economic disaster. Whether Congress will respond with the urgency Musk demands remains to be seen, but his message was clear: act now, or face national insolvency later.