Elon Musk attended a Cabinet meeting on Thursday to present the findings of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a White House initiative launched earlier this year to identify and eliminate federal waste.
Musk, who leads the team, revealed that DOGE has already uncovered approximately $150 billion in projected savings for the federal government by fiscal year 2026.
Musk’s appearance sparked reactions online and across media platforms, with some critics questioning his role.
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Despite speculation from various media outlets, Musk was present and actively participated in the meeting, a fact confirmed by multiple sources and later verified by Fox Business and Community Notes on X.
It has been noticeable, to me at least, that Elon Musk is being marginalized in the WH. Trump is holding a cabinet meeting today and Musk won’t be there. He hasn’t been around all week as far as I’ve been able to tell. It seems the Wisconsin election caused his star to fade.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2025
During the meeting, Musk discussed several examples of waste identified by the DOGE team, including unemployment benefits issued to individuals who, according to federal records, had not yet been born.
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Musk described the overall landscape as a “target rich environment” for fraud and unnecessary spending.
“All we had to do was move in any direction to find waste,” Musk told the Cabinet.
“What we’re doing is making things more sensible and improving services for the American people.”
Elon Musk at The White House Cabinet Meeting on @DOGE: “People ask me ‘How are you going to find waste and fraud in the government?’ — Actually you just go in any direction.. that’s how you find it.. as the military would say, target rich environment.” pic.twitter.com/wHtTaFhoyd
— America (@america) April 10, 2025
The DOGE initiative was created earlier this year by President Donald Trump, who tasked Musk with leading a data-driven effort to improve fiscal efficiency across the federal government.
The program has been analyzing agency expenditures, identifying inefficiencies, and proposing measures to reduce redundancy and prevent future waste.
President Trump praised Musk and the DOGE team during the meeting, expressing appreciation for their work and the early results achieved.
“The DOGE team has done incredible work,” Trump said.
“This is about putting the taxpayer first. I hope this team continues their efforts because this kind of accountability should be permanent in government.”
Musk’s attendance at the Cabinet meeting was met with both interest and criticism, with some outlets downplaying the financial findings and instead focusing on political dynamics between Musk and the administration.
However, the DOGE team’s savings estimates have been supported by internal audits and are expected to grow as the initiative continues its work.
The White House has stated that DOGE is reviewing contracts, technology systems, and grant disbursements across all major agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor.
The goal is to create a long-term structural shift in how federal spending is managed, shifting the emphasis from expansion to efficiency.
Musk’s presence also included a lighter moment.
😂 https://t.co/0NsNM4yAdR
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 12, 2025
Noticing media speculation about whether he would attend the meeting, Musk appeared with a subtle nod to the online rumors and laughed off the attention.
Elon Musk at the Cabinet Room table with a pad in front of him that said “Top Secret”. On the way out I asked @elonmusk what his top secret information was and if he had a sketch for a new car under there. pic.twitter.com/crFijkzJMN
— Edward Lawrence (@EdwardLawrence) April 10, 2025
According to White House officials, the DOGE team’s findings will be incorporated into the administration’s budget planning cycle moving forward.
Discussions are underway to establish DOGE as a permanent oversight function reporting to the Office of Management and Budget.
The DOGE findings mark one of the administration’s largest single-year waste reductions in recent history and signal a broader shift in priorities under Trump’s second term — from growing government programs to holding them accountable.
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