(American Political Report)—In a recent interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, President Donald Trump announced plans to direct Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to audit the Departments of Education and Defense. Trump anticipates uncovering “billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse” within these agencies.
Appointed by Trump, Musk leads DOGE with a mandate to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion. The president praised Musk’s efforts in curbing government expenditures.
Trump has previously advocated for the elimination of the Education Department, which currently provides approximately 10% of K-12 funding nationwide and manages the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program.
The Department of Defense has faced scrutiny over instances of overpaying contractors. Don Kettl, an expert in government administration, noted challenges in supervising contractors to ensure value for taxpayer money.
“There is a huge problem of the government being able to supervise these contractors carefully enough to be able to make sure we’re getting our money’s worth,” Ketti told TIME.
Prior to DOGE’s establishment, a Congressional Budget Office report revealed that Congress allocated $516 billion in fiscal 2024 to nearly 500 programs that had expired under federal law. Additionally, the federal government reported an estimated $236 billion in improper payments for government programs in fiscal 2023, highlighting persistent issues with improper payments and fraud.
Trump’s full interview with Fox News is scheduled to air before Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. He is set to become the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl, which will take place in New Orleans.
Article generated from legacy media reports.
