Inside Elon Musk sitdown with House DOGE panel as he maps $1 trillion cuts

Elon Musk met with a small group of House Republicans on Wednesday evening to discuss avenues for cost savings in an effort to find up to $1 trillion in government waste. According to sources familiar with the discussion, Musk expressed confidence in his team’s ability to achieve this goal, acknowledging that mistakes may be made but emphasizing a commitment to swiftly correcting them.

During the meeting, Musk highlighted areas where the government could be made more efficient, including conducting an audit to identify instances where taxpayer dollars were being sent to deceased individuals for various federal benefits. Lawmakers present at the meeting emphasized the importance of cross-referencing databases to ensure accuracy and eliminate wasteful spending.

One lawmaker raised concerns about whether government offices like the Treasury Department would have the capacity to implement the changes Musk was proposing. Musk reassured the group that his team would provide assistance to ensure successful implementation.

In addition to discussing cost-saving measures, the idea of a congressional rescissions package was floated as a way to claw back excessive government spending. This authority would allow Congress to cancel planned government expenditures, requiring only 51 votes in the Senate for approval.

Following the smaller meeting, Musk addressed a wider group of House Republicans, speaking for approximately 15 minutes before taking questions. Lawmakers expressed appreciation for the opportunity to collaborate with Musk and strategize on how to improve government efficiency.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden raised concerns about the impact of cost-saving measures on veterans and farmers, prompting Musk to assure him that benefits for these groups would not be compromised. Musk reiterated his commitment to uncovering wasteful spending and ensuring accountability in government operations.

Overall, lawmakers were impressed by Musk’s dedication to identifying inefficiencies in government spending and his willingness to work collaboratively with Congress to address these issues. The meetings with House Republicans followed a similar discussion with Senate Republicans, indicating Musk’s ongoing efforts to streamline government operations and eliminate waste.