Focus on the BIG picture.
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025

0:00
0:00

Elon Musk Criticizes US Government Payment Systems, Asserts $100 Billion in Annual Fraud.

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX expresses worries about the shortcomings in federal payment systems, advocating for reforms and better auditing practices.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, voiced serious concerns about the inefficiencies he sees in the U.S. government's payment systems, claiming potential fraud exceeding $100 billion each year.

Musk utilized X (formerly Twitter) to announce a collaboration between the Treasury Department and his own Department of Government Efficiency, which seeks to implement stricter reporting requirements for all government payouts.

He pointed out that among the new stipulations, all payments must include a payment categorization code, which is essential for effective financial audits.

Musk remarked that this code is frequently left out, creating difficulties in conducting proper audits.

He stressed the importance of requiring a brief justification for payments, indicating that many entries are submitted without any explanation.

He stated, "We are not yet applying ANY judgment to this rationale, but simply requiring that SOME attempt be made to explain the payment more than NOTHING!"

In his statements, Musk also pushed for enhancements to the DO-NOT-PAY list, a resource used to pinpoint entities engaged in fraudulent activities.

He advocated that this list be refreshed weekly, if not daily, to ensure that funds do not end up in the hands of fraudsters.

Musk pointed out that it currently takes a long time—up to a year—for an entity to be included on the DO-NOT-PAY list, signaling the need for a faster process to improve the integrity of federal payments.

Highlighting specific worries about entitlement payments, Musk claimed that more than $100 billion each year is allocated to individuals lacking a Social Security Number or a temporary identification, which he deemed "extremely suspicious."

Musk alleged that conversations with Treasury officials indicated that approximately half of this amount could clearly be attributed to fraud, equating to a potential loss of $50 billion annually.

He described the scenario as "utterly insane" and urged immediate measures to address what he sees as rampant fraud in the payment systems, asserting that taxpayer funds must be safeguarded.

The dialogue regarding government payment systems and oversight has taken place independently of his cryptocurrency endeavors, as Musk clarified that these changes are being carried out by long-serving government professionals rather than individuals associated with his businesses.

Through his social media account, Musk shared a chart titled "Federal Government: Waste, Fraud, Abuse," further emphasizing his worries about the perceived extent of fraud in government spending.

To date, the Treasury Department has not publicly addressed Musk's allegations or the reforms he proposed.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Romania Excludes Top Presidential Contender Călin Georgescu from Election Repetition
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte apprehended in Manila on ICC warrant.
Mark Carney Chosen as Leader of Canada's Liberal Party, Poised to Assume Prime Minister Role
Russia Expels British Diplomats in Response to Increased Tensions
Pope Francis Displays Signs of Recovery, Yet His Hospitalization Prolongs.
Significant Rescue Mission in Progress Following Collision Between Tanker and Cargo Vessel in the North Sea
U.S. Government Reveals Major Reductions to USAID Initiatives.
Leak of Radioactive Coolant Reported at Europe’s Largest Nuclear Reactor
Trump Administration Launches Self-Deportation App for Undocumented Immigrants
X Experiences Major Outage Affecting Thousands of Users
Syria Wraps Up Military Campaign Amid Widespread Violence and Large-Scale Killings
Trump Remarks on the Arrest of a Pro-Palestinian Student at Columbia University
Cyberattack Targets X: Elon Musk Points to Potential Nation-State Involvement
Trump Administration Plans New Travel Ban Including Afghanistan and Pakistan
Special Election Pending Following Death of Texas Congressman Sylvester Turner
Russian Teacher Under Investigation After Explicit Content Incident in Classroom
Poland Plans Comprehensive Military Training for All Adult Males Amid Enhanced Defense Initiatives
Escalating Vandalism Targets Tesla Amid Political Controversies
Former Security Adviser Warns That UK Troop Deployment in Ukraine May Last for Years
Private spacecraft Athena has landed close to the Moon's south pole.
White House Responds to Reported Strains Between Elon Musk and U.S. Officials
Qatar Calls for Diplomatic Solution Between the US and Iran Amidst Regional Strains
Trump Administration Launches Gold Card Visa Initiative Exempting Foreign Assets from US Taxation
Trump Welcomes Cryptocurrency Leaders to White House Summit Amid Financial Controversies
Stranded Astronaut Butch Wilmore's Daughter Voices Concerns Over Extended Space Stay
Trump Urges Nuclear Talks with Iran as Tensions Escalate
Substitute Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Inciting Violence Among Students
US Launches AI Program to Track Social Media of Foreign Nationals for Terrorist Support
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Highlights the Importance of the US in Securing Peace
Trump Discovers It's Simpler to Negotiate with Russia than with Ukraine During Ongoing Conflict
U.S. Government Declares $400 Million Reduction in Funding for Columbia University
Google Eliminates Women's History Month and Various Cultural Celebrations from Calendar Application
Trump Calls for Accuracy in Government Reductions Under Musk's Supervision
Pope Francis Shares His Thanks Despite Ongoing Health Issues
Donald Trump Declares Upcoming Trip to Saudi Arabia to Discuss Business Investment Opportunities.
U.S. Government Offers $10 Million Reward for the Capture of Ex-Olympic Snowboarder Now Drug Kingpin
El Salvador Pursues Extradition of Former Colonel Associated with 1982 Killings of Dutch Journalists
Disney's Biggest Cruise Ship Set to Debut from Singapore
King Charles III Reveals His Personal Playlist with Apple Music in Anticipation of Commonwealth Day
Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, the former 'Baywatch' star, has tragically died by suicide at the age of 62.
Trinity College Dublin Honors Eavan Boland by Naming a Building After Her, Signifying a Historic Milestone.
NYPD Detective Under Fire for Viral Music Video Appearance
Japanese Woman Taken into Custody Following Partner's Hypothermia-Induced Death on Balcony
The Eighth Flight of Starship Megarocket Encounters Upper Stage Failure.
Ex-UK Ambassador Cautions About a Significant Change in US-UK Relations
Macron Cautions Against Growing Russian Aggression as U.S. Support for Ukraine Evolves
The US Initiates Direct Discussions with Hamas Amid Hostage Situation
Global Call Center Scam Utilizes Deepfake Technology to Swindle Thousands.
Trump Provides Temporary Tariff Relief to Automakers During Trade Disputes
Tesla's UK Sales Increase Despite Wider Decline Across Europe and CEO's Engagement in Politics
×