On Tuesday afternoon, Elon Musk said he and President Donald Trump talk almost every day as the billionaire leader of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took questions from the press in the Oval Office.
Why It Matters
DOGE, a nongovernmental task force led by Musk, President Donald Trump's billionaire ally, is working to cut wasteful federal spending. The department has been granted access to "sensitive Treasury data," including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Musk has been working as a "special government employee," a White House official told the AP. He does not receive a paycheck for his work.
What To Know
Standing alongside Trump and with his young son, "X," Musk said he and the president talk often. He said he has asked about what actions to take and where DOGE should focus its efforts.
The billionaire also joked that the widespread scrutiny and criticism he's received for his work feels like a "daily proctology exam."
Since Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, Musk has been an ever-growing presence in U.S. politics, joining rallies, speaking out on social media, and now heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
More recently, Musk announced that USAID would shut down.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent approved Musk's access to the Treasury on Friday. It allows him and his team entry into a system responsible for trillions of dollars in government payments, including Social Security checks and tax refunds.
During the meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Musk said he has examined the Social Security system "and we've got people in there that are 150 years old."
"Now do you know anyone that's 150?" Musk asked. "I think they're probably dead."
Last week, top Democrats called out the "unelected shadow government" that has been "conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries unveiled a new bill called "Stop the Steal," which they say is "to prevent unlawful meddling in the Treasury Department's payment systems and protect Americans across the country."
He also said there is widespread fraud taking place in the payment of "federal entitlements" like Social Security.
On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told journalists, "We welcome DOGE to the Pentagon."
"Elon Musk is a great patriot," Hegseth said. "He is very interested in advancing the America First agenda...I hope to welcome Elon to the Pentagon very soon and his team."
Musk was questioned in the Oval Office about whether it is a conflict for him to be examining the Pentagon's books while he has lucrative government contracts with the department. The billionaire said he isn't the one filing the contracts and that they are handled by someone at SpaceX.
Hegseth's comments come after a reporter asked Trump on February 7 about where Musk has been directed to review.
"Pentagon, Education, just about everything. We're going to go through everything," Trump said during a press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. "I've instructed him to go check out Education, to check out the Pentagon, which is the military. And, you know, sadly, you'll find some things that are pretty bad."
Recent polling data has shown that DOGE is gaining traction among voters.
What People Are Saying
Republican Louisiana Senator John Kennedy told Fox: "I'm unapologetically with Trump and with Musk."
President Donald Trump on Truth Social Tuesday: "DOGE: BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE BEING FOUND. CAMPAIGN PROMISE. IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA!!!"
What's Next
Musk is looking into the Pentagon and the Department of Education next.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update 02/11/25 5:41 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
About the writer
Gabe Whisnant is Deputy Weekend Editor at Newsweek based in South Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed ... Read more