Personnel from Elon Musk’s government downsizing team, DOGE, held their first known meetings at the Pentagon on Friday, a U.S. official told Reuters. Senior military officers are preparing for potential billions in spending cuts.
President Donald Trump had identified the Pentagon as a key target for Musk’s DOGE, which is working across federal agencies to slash spending. Trump claims Musk will uncover hundreds of billions in waste and fraud at the Defense Department.
An anonymous official confirmed DOGE personnel’s arrival but gave no further details. Waste at the Pentagon has been a long-standing concern across party lines. However, Democrats and civil service unions argue that Musk lacks the expertise to restructure the military and warn that his efforts could expose classified programs.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed these concerns, stating he aims to increase defense spending. He confirmed discussions with Musk but assured that no changes would weaken U.S. military capabilities.
Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, hold major Pentagon contracts, raising conflict of interest questions.
The Pentagon’s budget nears $1 trillion annually. In December, then-President Joe Biden signed a bill approving $895 billion in defense spending for the fiscal year ending September 30.
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