Former U.S. President Donald Trump has entrusted Elon Musk with uncovering “hundreds of billions of dollars” in fraud within federal agencies. In a Fox News interview, Trump stated that eliminating government waste was a key demand from voters.
“We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse. The people elected me on that,” Trump said.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has been tasked with leading federal cost-cutting efforts, beginning with an audit of the Pentagon to identify mismanagement and unnecessary spending.
Pentagon Budget Under Scrutiny
The Pentagon, with an annual budget nearing $1 trillion, has become a focal point for Musk’s cost-cutting measures. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, will investigate areas such as:
- Shipbuilding inefficiencies
- Defense contract overspending
- Redundant government programs
In December, President Joe Biden signed a bill allocating $895 billion to defense spending for the fiscal year ending September 30. Trump believes that a significant portion of these funds could be mismanaged or wasted.
Security Concerns Over Musk’s Role
Musk’s involvement has sparked controversy, with critics warning that his audit could expose classified information and possibly violate legal boundaries. Some of Musk’s aides have sought access to confidential government data, raising alarms among officials.
Despite these concerns, Trump remains firm on his decision to downsize the federal workforce and has already assigned Musk to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), laying off thousands of employees. Next, Musk is expected to audit the Department of Education before moving on to the military sector.
Potential Conflict of Interest?
Democratic Representative Mark Pocan has pointed out that Musk holds billions of dollars in government contracts, questioning his impartiality in leading these audits. However, Trump dismissed these concerns, stating that Musk is not financially benefiting from his role in DOGE.
Trump’s initiative signals a major shift in federal spending oversight, with Musk at the center of one of the most ambitious cost-cutting projects in U.S. history.
