Trump Enlists Musk to Uncover Alleged Military Fraud
Former President Donald Trump has expressed his confidence in Elon Musk, indicating plans to enlist his help in investigating suspected “fraud and abuse” totaling billions of dollars within the United States military.
The entrepreneur, known for leading Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), is at the forefront of Trump’s initiatives aimed at trimming down government expenditures and cutting through red tape. This effort has already seen scrutiny directed toward the U.S. Agency for International Development.
A New Initiative: Department of Government Efficiency
The new initiative, termed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aspires to identify measures for reducing federal personnel, eliminating redundant programs, and streamlining federal regulations.
Nonetheless, there are concerns regarding Musk’s access to governmental databases potentially posing risks to national security.
Trump Voices Support for Musk on Fox News
In an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, President Trump articulated his strong support for Musk’s involvement. “I’ve received incredible assistance from Elon; he’s been outstanding,” he stated confidently.
When probed about his trust toward Musk, Trump responded affirmatively: “Can I trust Elon? Absolutely—he has nothing to gain from this,” emphasizing that he is unaware how much time Musk can dedicate given his extensive commitments elsewhere.
Audit Across Federal Departments Planned
“I encouraged him to investigate different agencies; I’ll soon suggest he delve into the Department of Education next,” Trump noted. He believes this inquiry will reveal similar issues there as well. “Subsequently, we will turn our focus on military operations—I anticipate uncovering hundreds of billions lost due to fraud,” he added emphatically.
This assertion underscores Trump’s campaign position where efficiency reforms were pivotal elements that garnered voter support during his election run.
Bipartisan Cooperation for Enhanced Efficiency
The former president’s remarks come shortly after it was revealed that Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, would collaborate with Elon Musk aimed at improving departmental effectiveness.
“Under directives from the president’s office, we are evaluating strategies to enhance our department’s overall efficiency,” Noem explained during an interview featured on CNN’s “State of the Union.” She described this undertaking as a significant audit aiming at revitalizing governmental functionality across various sectors.”
