Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has aligned with Elon Musk in calling for reforms to defense spending after the Pentagon failed its seventh consecutive audit. Both Sanders and Musk pointed to the $886 billion defense budget as a glaring example of government inefficiency.
“Elon Musk is right,” Sanders posted on X. “The Pentagon has lost track of billions, yet Congress continues to pass bloated budgets full of waste and fraud. Only 13 senators opposed this madness last year. That must change.” His comments come as Musk takes on a leading role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President-elect Donald Trump.
Musk, along with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has been tasked with cutting waste across federal agencies. Sanders praised the initiative, adding that defense expenditures must be a priority for reform.
The Pentagon’s history of fiscal mismanagement is well-documented. In 2022, it failed to account for 60% of its assets. Despite these failures, Congress has continued to approve massive defense budgets, with little pushback. Sanders and Musk’s criticism highlights growing frustration with the lack of accountability.
This is not the first time Sanders and Musk have shared common ground. In September, Sanders supported Musk’s remarks on addressing obesity to lower public health costs. Their shared focus on reducing waste, whether in defense or healthcare, underscores the need for bipartisan solutions.
Sanders’ comments follow Trump’s broader commitment to government efficiency through initiatives like DOGE. As calls for reform grow louder, Sanders and Musk’s rare agreement may signal a shift in attitudes toward unchecked military spending.
