Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are set to review spending at the Department of Education and the Pentagon after receiving new directives from President Donald Trump. Trump made the announcement Friday at a White House press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, stating that wasteful spending in both agencies will be investigated.
“Pentagon, Education, just about everything,” Trump said. “We’re going to go through everything.” He noted that Musk has already uncovered “tremendous fraud and corruption” in other agencies and that the next steps would involve reviewing education spending before moving on to defense.
The Education Department has been a frequent target for conservatives, with calls to reduce its influence or shut it down entirely. Reports indicate that DOGE staffers have already gained access to federal education databases, including the National Student Loan Database System.
Cutting military spending could be more contentious, as the Pentagon commands one of the largest portions of the federal budget. Trump, however, insisted that large amounts of taxpayer money are being wasted. “You’re going to find a lot,” he said.
Musk, who has been overseeing government restructuring efforts, has made sweeping reductions at multiple agencies. His team recently attempted to dismantle USAID, putting its entire workforce on leave. Lawsuits have been filed in response to these moves, as critics argue that such decisions require congressional approval.
Despite the pushback, Trump remains confident in Musk’s efforts. “Elon is doing a great job. He’s finding tremendous fraud and corruption and waste,” he said. “I will pick out a target and I’ll say, ‘Go in.’”
Musk’s next focus will be Pentagon spending, which has ballooned past $900 billion, prompting concerns that government waste and inefficiency have spiraled out of control.
