He didn't kill the funding, he's just violating the US Constitution by deliberately failing at his job to enforce the laws. We should avoid phrasing that makes it sound normal. (Congress can "kill" a law, he can't.)
That said, it's hard to say what motive might be going on. Did someone just convince him that it was a safe thing to target? Does he think his actions will frustrate or hurt Democratic states? Or maybe he just needs something in jeopardy that he can hold above Elon as a form of extortion.