Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) joined Elon Musk in criticizing the Pentagon’s budgetary failures after it failed its seventh consecutive audit, leaving billions unaccounted for in its $886 billion budget. Both Musk and Sanders emphasized the need for immediate reforms to defense spending.
Sanders wrote on X, “Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon continues to lose track of billions, yet Congress funds it without question. Only 13 senators opposed this wasteful spending last year. That must change.” His comments align with Musk’s ongoing push to curb government inefficiency through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
President-elect Donald Trump recently appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead DOGE, which aims to slash waste across federal agencies. Sanders expressed optimism that Musk’s leadership could help tackle the excessive spending in defense budgets.
The Pentagon’s inability to account for its assets has been a recurring issue. In 2022, the Department of Defense failed to track 60% of its resources, despite receiving near-record funding from Congress. Critics argue that unchecked defense spending reflects broader problems of waste in federal programs.
Sanders and Musk’s agreement on fiscal responsibility extends beyond defense. In September, Sanders praised Musk’s remarks on addressing obesity to improve public health. While they often diverge politically, their shared concern for government accountability underscores the need for bipartisan action.
As Trump’s administration prepares to implement reforms through DOGE, Sanders and Musk’s rare alignment may add momentum to efforts to hold the Pentagon accountable for its financial inefficiencies.
