Trump enlists Musk to audit Pentagon amid fraud concerns
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in an interview with Fox News that Elon Musk will be tasked with conducting an audit at the Pentagon to uncover potential financial misconduct.
Donald Trump expects the owner of Tesla and platform X to reveal "billions of dollars" in losses caused by fraud and waste within the Department of Defense. The Department of Education is also being targeted.
Soon, maybe even within 24 hours, I will direct him to the Department of Education. Then I plan to enter the military – Trump declared.
Elon Musk recently took over leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an institution established to eliminate abuses in the federal administration. The White House explained that Musk is an exceptional government employee, typically granted to external consultants working less than 130 days a year.
Musk to scrutinize Pentagon spending
As noted by the Polish Press Agency, this year's Pentagon budget amounts to $895 billion. National security advisor Mike Waltz stated in an interview with NBC that Musk might pay special attention to the shipbuilding process.
Everything there seems to cost too much, take too long, and give too little to the soldiers – commented Waltz.
Waltz added that "we need business leaders to go in there and absolutely reform the procurement processes." He did not mince words, describing the shipyard orders made in the army as an "absolute mess".
However, Democrats and civil service unions express concerns that DOGE lacks the appropriate knowledge for restructuring the Pentagon, and Musk's actions may risk revealing secret military programs. Additionally, Musk's companies have significant contracts with the Department of Defense, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.
