Defense Secretary Reaffirms Commitment to Clean Audit, Supports Musk's Efforts to Cut Government Spending

(MENAFN) On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated the Department of Defense's (DOD) dedication to achieving a clean audit, while praising Elon Musk’s initiatives to reduce government spending. Hegseth emphasized the importance of transparency, saying, “American taxpayers deserve to know exactly how and where their money is spent,” according to a Pentagon statement quoting his interview with the media. He further stressed the need to track spending, stating, “We need to know when we spend dollars; we need to know where they're going and why.”

Hegseth welcomed Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to identify opportunities for improving audits, expediting acquisitions, and eliminating waste. Musk, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, serves as a "special government employee" heading DOGE, an initiative focused on reducing federal spending.

In addition, Hegseth outlined several key defense priorities, such as modernizing the U.S. nuclear triad and developing an Iron Dome defense system. The nuclear triad refers to a three-pronged military structure involving land-based nuclear missiles, nuclear-powered submarines, and strategic aircraft capable of launching nuclear weapons.

MENAFN10022025000045017092ID1109187390