(FILES) (FILES) (COMBO) This combination of pictures created on August 12, 2024 shows, L-R, Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaking at the 27th annual Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on May 6, 2024 and former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump standing onstage during the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024. US President Donald Trump said in remarks airing on February 9, 2025, that Musk, who is presiding over a purge of US government jobs, will help find "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud" in federal agencies. Speaking in a Fox News interview set to air before the Super Bowl football championship, Trump said the American people "want me to find" waste and that Musk, the world's richest man and the leader of the president's cost-cutting efforts, has been "a great help" in rooting out unnecessary spending. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN and Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
9th February 2025
President Donald Trump has stated that Elon Musk will help expose “hundreds of billions of dollars” in government fraud as part of a major cost-cutting effort.
In an interview with Fox News set to air before the Super Bowl, Trump said Americans want him to eliminate wasteful spending. He praised Musk, who is leading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), for his role in reducing federal expenses.
“We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud and abuse,” Trump said.
Since taking office, Trump has signed multiple executive orders to slash government spending. Musk, a major Trump supporter, has already made drastic changes, including shutting down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and laying off thousands of employees. However, these moves have sparked legal challenges.
A federal judge recently blocked DOGE from accessing sensitive financial data from the US Treasury, and another judge paused the administration’s plan to put 2,200 USAID workers on leave.
Trump revealed that Musk’s next target will be the Department of Education, followed by a review of the Pentagon’s $850 billion budget. However, critics have raised concerns about Musk’s involvement, noting that his companies have received over $20 billion in government contracts.
Democrats have strongly opposed Trump’s actions, with Senator Chris Murphy calling it a “billionaire takeover of government” and an “assault on the Constitution.” He warned that Trump wants to control government spending to benefit his allies and punish his opponents.
Despite these concerns, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Musk’s role, describing him as an “outside auditor” uncovering financial mismanagement. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz also supported the initiative, stating that the Pentagon needs major reforms to cut costs and improve efficiency.
As legal battles continue, Trump remains committed to restructuring government spending, with Musk playing a key role in the effort.
