Bernie Sanders Supports Elon Musk's DOGE, Stating That It Must Target The Pentagon's $886 Billion Budget

Sen. Bernie Sanders has added his voice to the debate surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the newly formed initiative cochaired by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. In a recent post on X, Sanders highlighted the Pentagon’s $886 billion budget, stating:

“Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. It's lost track of billions. Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change.”

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DOGE's Vision and Challenges

Musk and Ramaswamy plan to use DOGE to cut federal spending significantly, with an initial goal of reducing $500 billion annually, according to a piece the two wrote in the Wall Street Journal. During their visit to Capitol Hill, they discussed strategies to shrink government waste and promote private-sector efficiency in public administration. 

However, in an interview with CNBC, House Appropriations Committee member Rep. Steve Womack, Ark., pointed out some challenges that DOGE will have with their $2 trillion goal to cut expenditures. "If you're going to leave the social safety net programs alone and not touch them, that means you're going to try to cut hundreds of billions of dollars out of discretionary spending," Womack said. "It would be very difficult to do that without cutting national security."

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According to CNBC, almost two-thirds of federal spending is allocated to mandatory programs like Social Security and Medicare. These programs, along with national defense – which accounted for $805 billion in fiscal 2023 – are considered politically untouchable by many lawmakers. This leaves limited discretionary funding available for cuts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told CNBC that Musk and Ramaswamy's meetings were merely "brainstorming sessions" to discuss ideas without pressure to reach a consensus. 

Pentagon Audit Failures

Sanders' comments about the Pentagon's audit failures echo fiscal conservatives and progressives’ concerns. According to government reports, the Department of Defense has repeatedly failed to account for billions in taxpayer funds. These failures fuel debates over the allocation of defense spending and whether the DoD is using resources effectively.

Musk and Ramaswamy's focus on targeting unauthorized spending aligns with Sanders' call for reform. Unauthorized spending refers to federal expenditures not specifically approved by Congress. In fiscal 2024, this category included significant costs for veterans’ health care, opioid treatment programs and housing assistance, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Areas of Potential Cuts

In their WSJ article, the DOGE leaders identified specific areas they believe could yield savings:

• Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Receives $535 million annually.
• International Organizations: Allocated $1.5 billion in grants.
• Progressive Groups, Including Planned Parenthood: Receive approximately $300 million per year.

These suggested cuts highlight a broader divide on how the government should spend money, sparking mixed reactions across the political spectrum.

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Public Reactions

Sanders' support for addressing defense spending contrasts with Musk and Ramaswamy's broader focus on shrinking government operations. While Sanders champions redirecting resources toward domestic programs, DOGE leaders emphasize reducing federal employee headcounts and requiring in-person work for government staff, which they predict could lead to voluntary departures.

Whether Sanders' remarks signal an emerging bipartisan effort to address defense spending inefficiencies remains to be seen. As Musk and Ramaswamy continue to promote DOGE's objectives, the feasibility of implementing such sweeping reforms will depend on navigating complex political and economic realities.

For now, the spotlight remains on Congress as lawmakers grapple with how – or if – they can enact significant spending cuts while maintaining critical programs and services.

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