President Donald Trump has confirmed that the US Departments of Defense and Education are next to undergo budget reviews.
Elon Musk, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will lead the review of federal spending at the Pentagon and the Department of Education, President Trump confirmed. These audits are part of a larger effort to reduce government spending.
Appointed as a “special government employee,” Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is a key advisor to President Trump. DOGE, though named as a department, is a temporary entity focused on reducing federal spending by up to $2 trillion by July 2026.
During a Friday press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump stated that Musk will comprehensively review the departments’ budgets.
“I’ve instructed him to examine education and the Pentagon, and unfortunately, you’ll uncover some significant issues; however, I don’t anticipate finding anything on the same scale as recent discoveries,” Trump remarked, suggesting DOGE will uncover substantial problems, given the severity of prior findings.
Earlier this week, Trump alleged that billions of dollars were misappropriated by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), claiming the funds were largely used for positive media coverage of Democrats.
Trump’s administration aims to shut down USAID, Washington’s primary channel for international political funding. Upon taking office, Trump implemented a 90-day freeze on most foreign aid.
The president has also opposed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government, rescinding protections for transgender individuals and terminating DEI initiatives after his inauguration.
Last week, DOGE reported savings of over $1 billion from eliminating DEI-related contracts. Previously, the agency claimed daily federal spending reductions of approximately $1 billion as of January 29, due to halting unnecessary hiring, eliminating DEI programs, and stopping improper payments to foreign entities.