Focus on the BIG picture.
Saturday, Feb 07, 2026

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
White House Launches TrumpRx.gov to Deliver Lower Prescription Drug Prices to Americans
Foreign Governments and Corporations Spend Millions with Trump-Linked Lobbying Firm in Washington
Belgium: Man Charged with Rape After Faking Payment to Sex Worker
KPMG Urges Auditor to Relay AI Cost Savings
US and Iran to Begin Nuclear Talks in Oman
Canada Opens First Consulate in Greenland Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
China unveils plans for a 'Death Star' capable of launching missile strikes from space
NASA allows astronauts to take smartphones on upcoming missions to capture special moments.
Trump administration to launch TrumpRx.gov for direct drug purchases
Investigation Launched at Winter Olympics Over Ski Jumpers Injecting Hyaluronic Acid
U.S. State Department Issues Urgent Travel Warning for Citizens to Leave Iran Immediately
Wall Street Erases All Gains of 2026; Bitcoin Plummets 14% to $63,000
Nike's diversity initiatives under investigation for alleged discrimination against white employees in the U.S.
Epstein Case Documents Reignite Global Scrutiny of Political and Business Elites
Eighty-one-year-old man in the United States fatally shoots Uber driver after scam threat
The Washington Post Initiates Reduction of Over Three Hundred Positions Amid Industry Pressures
US Congressional Analysis Weighs Scenario Where Australia Receives No AUKUS Nuclear Submarines
Dubai Awards Tunnel Contract for Dubai Loop as Boring Company Plans Pilot Network
Justice Department Urges Court That Halting Trump’s White House Ballroom Project Would Threaten National Security
Trump and Colombia’s Petro Hold High-Stakes Washington Talks Amid Deep Diplomatic Strains
Thousands Turn Out in Richmond to Support Buddhist Monks’ Long Walk for Peace En Route to Washington
Political Censorship: French Prosecutors Raid Musk’s X Offices in Paris
AI Invented “Hot Springs” — Tourists Arrived and Were Shocked
Tech Mega-Donors Power Trump-Aligned Fundraising Surge to $429 Million Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Colombian President Gustavo Petro Arrives at White House for High-Stakes Meeting with Donald Trump
Amazon Plans Major Workforce Reduction in Washington State, Cutting More Than Two Thousand Jobs
Melania Documentary Opens Modestly in UK with Mixed Global Box Office Performance
U.S. Justice Department Publishes Millions of Jeffrey Epstein Files Amid Intensified Scrutiny
DOJ Unveils Millions of Epstein Files, Fueling Global Scrutiny of Elite Networks
Kathryn Burgum, Wife of Interior Secretary, Appointed White House Adviser for National Recovery Initiative
France Begins Phasing Out Zoom and Microsoft Teams to Advance Digital Sovereignty
Trump Warns Britain and Canada Against Expanding Trade Ties With China
White House’s Response to Don Lemon’s Arrest Sparks National Debate Over Press Freedom and Government Conduct
Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair to Reorient U.S. Monetary Policy Toward Pro-Growth Interest Rates
Melania Trump’s Documentary ‘Melania’ Debuts in Washington Before Global Release
Tech Market Shifts and AI Investment Surge Drive Global Innovation and Layoffs
Global Shifts in War, Trade, Energy and Security Mark Major International Developments
Markets Jolt as AI Spending, US Policy Shifts, and Global Security Moves Drive New Volatility
U.S. Signals Potential Decertification of Canadian Aircraft as Bilateral Tensions Escalate
Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to 20 Months for Bribery
President Trump Highlights ‘Trump Accounts’ Initiative to Bolster Child Investment and Financial Security
Tesla Ends Model S and X Production and Sends $2 Billion to xAI as 2025 Revenue Declines
China Executes 11 Members of the Ming Clan in Cross-Border Scam Case Linked to Myanmar’s Lawkai
Cuba Warns It Has Only Weeks of Oil Remaining as US Pressure Tightens
Trump Administration Officials Held Talks With Group Advocating Alberta’s Independence
Starmer Signals UK Push for a More ‘Sophisticated’ Relationship With China in Talks With Xi
Shopping Chatbots Move From Advice to Checkout as Walmart Pushes Faster Than Amazon
Starmer Seeks Economic Gains From China Visit While Navigating US Diplomatic Sensitivities
The AI Hiring Doom Loop — Algorithmic Recruiting Filters Out Top Talent and Rewards Average or Fake Candidates
Same Man, Fake Media Double Standards: Obama Decorated Tom Homan — Trump Appoints Him, and Suddenly He’s “Extreme”
×