Elon Musk and President Donald Trump are turning their focus toward financial corruption within the federal government, launching a probe into how public officials have accumulated millions while working in taxpayer-funded positions. The investigation, led by the Department of Government Efficiency Service (DOGE), is part of a broader effort to root out fraud and misuse of government funds.
At a White House press briefing, Musk raised questions about how certain federal employees have managed to amass substantial wealth. “Where does it come from?” Musk asked. “Maybe they’re great investors, in which case we should take their advice. But mysteriously, they get wealthy. We don’t know why.”
Trump issued an executive order expanding DOGE’s authority, requiring federal agencies to coordinate with Musk’s office on financial audits and hiring freezes. The order also directs agencies to reduce staffing and eliminate wasteful expenditures identified by DOGE.
Musk pointed to USAID as an agency under review, stating that its financial oversight has been lacking. “The reason departments can’t pass audits is because payments don’t have categorization codes,” he said. “It’s just blank checks flying out of the building.”
In addition to financial audits, DOGE has already terminated nearly $900 million in federal contracts. Musk and Trump have claimed these cuts are due to waste and fraud but have not yet disclosed specific details about the affected agreements.
The initiative has faced legal pushback from labor unions and Democratic state attorneys general, who argue that Trump and Musk are bypassing congressional authority. However, both have vowed to continue pursuing transparency and accountability in government spending.
