In a pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, President Donald Trump expressed unwavering confidence in Elon Musk’s role at the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) despite recent legal pushback from 19 state attorneys general.
The lawsuit, which led to a judge restricting Musk and his team from accessing Treasury Department payment and data systems, has raised questions about the scope and oversight of Musk’s influence in government operations.
The legal challenge, filed by a coalition of 19 states, argued that granting Musk and his team access to sensitive Treasury systems posed a risk of “irreparable harm.” On Saturday, a judge sided with the states, temporarily halting DOGE’s access to the data. When asked about the ruling, President Trump dismissed the concerns, calling the decision “crazy” and emphasizing the need to address inefficiency and fraud within the government.
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“No, I disagree with it 100%. I think it’s crazy,” Trump said. “We have to solve the efficiency problem. We have to solve the fraud, waste, abuse, all the things that have gone into the government. You take a look at the USAID, the kind of fraud in there.”
Trump highlighted the significant financial mismanagement his administration has uncovered, citing hundreds of millions of dollars in funds being misallocated or misused. “If I read a list, you’d say, this is ridiculous,” he told Baier. “There are many that you haven’t even seen. It’s crazy. It’s a big scam.”
The president credited Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, for his contributions to the effort. Musk, who has taken on an influential role at DOGE, has been instrumental in identifying inefficiencies and potential fraud within government agencies. Trump praised Musk’s dedication, noting that he is “not gaining anything” from his involvement.
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“Trust Elon? Oh, he’s not gaining anything. In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it,” Trump said. “He’s so into it. But I told him, do that. Then I’m going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education. He’s going to find the same thing. Then I’m going to go to the military. Let’s check the military. We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse.”
Trump reiterated that his campaign promises included rooting out government waste and inefficiency, and he sees Musk as a key ally in achieving that goal. “I campaigned on this, Bret,” he said. “The people want me to find it, and I’ve had great help with Elon Musk, who’s been terrific.”
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The lawsuit and subsequent ruling have sparked a broader debate about the role of private individuals in government operations and the potential risks of granting them access to sensitive systems. Critics argue that Musk’s involvement raises concerns about transparency and accountability, while supporters, including Trump, view his expertise as essential to modernizing and streamlining government functions.
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