U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Elon Musk will uncover “hundreds of billions of dollars” in fraud and waste at the Pentagon as part of an audit led by the billionaire.

“I’m going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education… Then I’m going to go to the military. Let’s check the military,” Trump said in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, a clip of which aired Sunday morning.

With the Pentagon’s budget nearing $1 trillion annually—$895 billion was approved for defense spending in the current fiscal year—Trump insists major inefficiencies exist.

Musk’s Expanding Role in Government Oversight

Musk, whom the White House designates as a special government employee, has been tasked with leading efforts to downsize the federal workforce. As part of this initiative, his aides have sought access to confidential government data, raising alarms over security risks and legality. Critics argue that these actions could expose classified information and lead to unauthorized agency restructuring without congressional approval.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz pointed to the Pentagon’s shipbuilding sector as a prime area for investigation, describing the agency as bloated and inefficient. “Everything there seems to cost too much, take too long, and deliver too little to the soldiers… We do need business leaders to go in there and absolutely reform the Pentagon’s acquisition process,” Waltz said on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Concerns Over Conflicts of Interest

While both political parties have long criticized Pentagon inefficiencies, Democrats and civil service unions argue that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency lacks the expertise to lead such a restructuring. Furthermore, Musk’s companies hold lucrative defense contracts, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

With tensions rising over government oversight and national security, Musk’s role in reshaping federal operations is likely to face increased scrutiny in the weeks ahead.