Musk's Mission: Billion-Dollar Audit at the Pentagon Sparks Debate

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated billionaire Elon Musk will lead a monumental audit of the Pentagon, seeking to uncover billions in fraud and abuse. The initiative has sparked controversy, with critics highlighting potential legal and security issues, while calling for Pentagon reform remains a bipartisan interest.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk is set to conduct a massive audit at the Pentagon, with expectations of uncovering billions in fraud and abuse, mirroring Trump's critical stance on federal spending inefficiencies.

The Pentagon, with a budget nearing $1 trillion annually, has been a focal point of longstanding criticism over wastefulness. Trump's push comes amid recent defense budget authorizations approaching $895 billion, although it faces pushback on legal grounds and concerns over security risks.

Musk's engagement, branded by the White House as a special government role, is clouded by potential conflicts of interest due to existing Pentagon contracts. Despite bipartisan concerns, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stresses the necessity of business-minded reforms, particularly in Pentagon's shipbuilding and acquisition processes.

(With inputs from agencies.)