Bernie Sanders Joins Elon Musk In Criticizing Pentagon Waste After Audit Failures

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has called for sweeping reforms to defense spending following the Pentagon’s seventh consecutive failed audit, aligning himself with Elon Musk’s outspoken criticism of government inefficiency. Sanders and Musk both cited the $886 billion defense budget as a prime example of mismanagement.

Sanders posted on X, writing, “Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon has lost track of billions while passing bloated budgets full of waste and fraud. This cannot continue.” He added that Congress must do more to address rampant inefficiency, noting that only 13 senators voted against last year’s defense budget.

The Pentagon has struggled with fiscal accountability for years. In 2022, the Department of Defense was unable to account for 60% of its assets, raising questions about oversight as Congress continues approving near-record military budgets. Despite bipartisan support for defense spending, Sanders and Musk have voiced rare agreement on the need for cuts.

Musk, recently appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Vivek Ramaswamy, has advocated for reducing waste across federal agencies. Sanders expressed hope that Musk’s role in DOGE could include a focus on defense expenditures.

This is not the first time Sanders and Musk have found common ground. In September, Sanders publicly agreed with Musk’s remarks on addressing obesity to lower public health costs. While the two often differ politically, their shared focus on government accountability highlights the growing pressure to reform federal spending.

Sanders’ criticism follows Trump’s pledge to prioritize efficiency through initiatives like DOGE. With the Pentagon under increasing scrutiny, Sanders and Musk’s calls for accountability could signal a shift in bipartisan attitudes toward defense spending.