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Thursday, Feb 19, 2026
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Trump Appoints Musk to Investigate Government Fraud Amidst Controversy
President Trump's latest initiative seeks to uncover major financial inefficiencies within federal agencies, led by Elon Musk.
In a recent Fox News interview, former President Donald Trump revealed that he has given Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, the task of uncovering "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud" within U.S. federal agencies.
Trump reiterated his dedication to tackling waste and fraud, aligning his comments with what he views as a public demand for governmental reform.
"We're going to unearth billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse. And, you know, the people elected me on that," Trump remarked.
Musk is anticipated to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, aiming to enhance operations and pinpoint inefficiencies across government entities.
His initial order includes conducting an audit of the Pentagon, whose budget approaches $1 trillion each year.
The Pentagon's budget recently saw an increase when former President Joe Biden sanctioned a defense spending bill totaling $895 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30.
Musk's appointment has sparked controversy, especially among critics who question the legality of his position and the potential dangers of revealing classified information.
Nevertheless, Trump reaffirmed his goal of downsizing the federal workforce, with Musk's team looking to access sensitive data within various government computer networks.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has specifically highlighted the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding initiatives as a key area for reform, calling the current situation "an absolute mess" and stressing the necessity for significant improvements to boost efficiency and reduce expenses.
Under Trump's guidance, Musk has begun shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading to thousands of job cuts.
Following this, he plans to focus on the Department of Education, where similar actions are expected.
Trump indicated, "Then I'm going to go to the military."
Musk has significant contracts with the federal government, as noted by House Democrat Mark Pocan.
However, Trump clarified that Musk would not receive any financial benefits from his work with the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump reiterated his dedication to tackling waste and fraud, aligning his comments with what he views as a public demand for governmental reform.
"We're going to unearth billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse. And, you know, the people elected me on that," Trump remarked.
Musk is anticipated to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, aiming to enhance operations and pinpoint inefficiencies across government entities.
His initial order includes conducting an audit of the Pentagon, whose budget approaches $1 trillion each year.
The Pentagon's budget recently saw an increase when former President Joe Biden sanctioned a defense spending bill totaling $895 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30.
Musk's appointment has sparked controversy, especially among critics who question the legality of his position and the potential dangers of revealing classified information.
Nevertheless, Trump reaffirmed his goal of downsizing the federal workforce, with Musk's team looking to access sensitive data within various government computer networks.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has specifically highlighted the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding initiatives as a key area for reform, calling the current situation "an absolute mess" and stressing the necessity for significant improvements to boost efficiency and reduce expenses.
Under Trump's guidance, Musk has begun shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading to thousands of job cuts.
Following this, he plans to focus on the Department of Education, where similar actions are expected.
Trump indicated, "Then I'm going to go to the military."
Musk has significant contracts with the federal government, as noted by House Democrat Mark Pocan.
However, Trump clarified that Musk would not receive any financial benefits from his work with the Department of Government Efficiency.
