WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a fiery speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), President Donald Trump praised Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for exposing what he described as “flagrant scams” and rooting out government waste.
Speaking to a crowd of conservative lawmakers, activists, and supporters, Trump highlighted Musk’s aggressive approach in tackling fraud, overspending, and bureaucratic incompetence across various federal agencies.
“Elon is doing a great job,” Trump said during his speech at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. “We’re removing all of the unnecessary, incompetent, and corrupt bureaucrats from the federal workforce.”
Musk’s Mission: Cleaning Up Government Waste
As the head of DOGE, Musk has been spearheading investigations into federal spending programs that Trump claims have been wasting taxpayer money on unnecessary projects. During his CPAC speech, Trump listed several examples of what he called “flagrant scams,” including:
- $520 million spent on consultants for environmental, social governance (ESG) investments in Africa
- $25 million allocated for biodiversity conservation in Colombia
- $40 million for improving social inclusion for sedentary migrants
- $42 million for behavior change initiatives in Uganda
- $10 million for medical male circumcisions in Mozambique
“Why are we going to Mozambique to do circumcisions?” Trump asked the crowd, drawing laughter and applause.
These revelations have fueled criticism from Democratic lawmakers and government employees, who argue that DOGE’s audits and investigations could undermine international aid efforts and essential government programs.
A Push for Accountability: Federal Workers to Justify Their Jobs
Earlier that day, Trump urged Musk to “get more aggressive” in his crackdown on government waste. Musk quickly responded, pledging on his platform X (formerly Twitter) that all federal employees would soon receive emails demanding justification for their jobs.
The emails will ask federal workers to outline:
- Five accomplishments from the previous week
- Justifications for their continued employment
Failure to respond will be considered a resignation. This controversial move has already prompted legal challenges, with critics arguing that forcing employees to respond could lead to privacy violations or breaches of confidential information, especially within sensitive agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Trump and Musk Plan to Visit Fort Knox
In another headline-grabbing announcement, Trump revealed plans to visit Fort Knox in Kentucky alongside Musk to verify whether the U.S. gold reserves—reportedly worth $425 billion—are still intact.
“Wouldn’t that be terrible if we opened it up and there was no gold there?” Trump said, half-jokingly. “We’re going to open those doors, and if there’s 27 tons of gold, we’ll be very happy.”
The last official visit to Fort Knox was in 1974, led by Treasury Secretary William Simon and attended by lawmakers, including Republican Senator Mitch McConnell during Trump’s first presidency. The upcoming inspection is being framed as a move toward increased government transparency.
Legal Battles and Growing Controversy
Musk’s role in DOGE has become a legal battleground, with Democratic attorneys general filing lawsuits aimed at limiting DOGE’s authority. Critics argue that:
- Musk’s role could violate constitutional limits on executive power
- DOGE’s actions may bypass Senate-confirmed officials’ responsibilities
Despite the legal hurdles, a federal judge recently denied a request to block DOGE’s operations, allowing Musk’s team to continue its investigations while court challenges proceed.
Trump’s First Month Back: Executive Orders and Immigration Crackdown
As Trump celebrated his first full month back in office, he took credit for a flurry of executive orders aimed at:
- Ending the “weaponization” of the federal government under the previous Biden administration
- Imposing reciprocal tariffs on foreign trading partners
- Cracking down on illegal immigration
“We’re liberating communities like Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, from illegal alien criminals,” Trump said. “Our country will not be turned into a dumping ground.”
