Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is preparing to expand its review of federal agencies, with President Donald Trump instructing the team to begin scrutinizing the Department of Education, followed by an in-depth look at the Pentagon’s finances.
Trump, speaking before the Super Bowl in an interview with Fox News, said that Musk’s work identifying fraud and excessive spending will now focus on education. “Elon has been terrific. He’s not doing this for personal gain. I told him to check Education, and after that, we’re going to look at the military,” Trump said.
Conservatives have long been critical of the Department of Education, with some calling for it to be reduced or eliminated entirely. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed that the administration is evaluating options to scale back or abolish the agency.
After reviewing education spending, DOGE will turn its attention to the Pentagon. “Let’s check the military. We’re going to find billions, maybe hundreds of billions, of dollars of fraud and abuse,” Trump said.
The Defense Department has received another budget increase for fiscal year 2025, pushing its funding past $900 billion. Despite its enormous budget, the department has never passed a full audit, with reports frequently pointing to procurement inefficiencies and overspending on contracts.
Musk’s cost-cutting team has already shaken up several agencies, including USAID, where thousands of employees were placed on leave as part of a broader restructuring effort. The moves have triggered legal challenges, with opponents arguing that executive authority alone cannot make sweeping changes to federal agencies.
