Bernie Sanders Calls Elon Musk Right
Senator Bernie Sanders recently took to social media to criticize the Pentagon’s handling of taxpayer dollars, highlighting the massive defense budget and a pattern of failed audits. On X, Sanders remarked, “Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It’s lost track of billions.”
Sanders continued, calling out the political establishment for not taking action, noting that only 13 senators voted against the bloated defense budget, which he described as “full of waste and fraud.” He argued that it was time to change this trend and hold the Pentagon accountable for its financial mismanagement.
Musk’s concerns about the inefficiency of government spending, especially in the defense sector, have been echoed by many conservatives. Last month, President Trump appointed Musk, along with biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). The department’s goal is to cut down on excess regulations, reduce wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies that have become entrenched in bureaucracy and inefficiency.
Musk’s initiative aligns with Republican values of fiscal responsibility and government accountability. By providing advice from outside of traditional government structures, DOGE aims to bring a fresh perspective on how taxpayer money is spent, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness.
Even some Democrats, like Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), have signaled an openness to working with Musk’s department on addressing waste and fraud in defense spending. Khanna, known for his calls for reform, acknowledged the Pentagon’s repeated audit failures and expressed interest in opening up defense contracting to more competition. His comments suggest that there may be bipartisan support for reducing the waste that has plagued the military-industrial complex for decades.
This growing coalition of voices—Republicans, independents, and even some Democrats—suggests that there is a real opportunity to reform Washington’s bloated defense budget and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent more wisely and efficiently.
