...I'm not necessarily 100% in the MAGA camp but I can at least see some benefit to the reduction of the federal government. It is painful today but may give this country life tomorrow so that we can compete with China again.
Everyone would like to see parts of the government that they don't like disappear and keep the parts that they do like. MAGAs want to keep the parts that impose their ideals on those who don't share them and defund projects that they feel they get no benefit from. Most aren't looking to reduce the Pentagon budget, and that is why Musk is trying to make deep cuts in social programs and almost none in the bloated military budget. He'll fire humanitarian aid workers but keep the huge budgets that fund the industries making himself wealthy. You are deluding yourself to think that they are really going to shrink the government. That is just a pretense to get rid of the parts that conservatives have long wanted to get rid of but could not convince others to agree to--primarily all of the social programs that have been put into place by Democrats since the FDR administration. It is not going over well with the public, but there is little anyone seems to be able to do about it in the short term. Trump and his gang of plutocrats are pulling off a coup in broad daylight.
I would be happy if they made large cuts to the military and closed down the useless bases too. And you are correct about pet projects for special interests....on either side But if people want something for nothing (say Lindsey Graham or Mitch McConnel) at least those kind of projects should be paid for by their own local or state governments so that the people nearest to the project are the same people who benefit from that project. We should be able to agree that the federal government should not be in the business for senator pet projects no matter who wants them. I pledge that when the Democrats get in next time they can and should get rid of all the Republican pet projects in next election cycle. And I for one will have no problem with that whatsoever even if George Soros does it.
Let the federal government get smaller so that it can be solvent and still carry out federal programs that are not pet projects. Let the federal government get smaller so that the middle class (not just the uber wealthy) can pay less federal tax. I want less from the federal government and to pay less too.
You should not be objecting to Musk getting rid of a charity pet program that gives away money to the rest of the world. A program that does not even directly benefit our own country. The federal government is nearly bankrupt and not in a position for a charity pet program right now. Let Bill Gates keep it going for now since he is able to afford it.