Elon Musk Can Save Billions In Federal Spending By Ending Wasteful Programs Like Transgender Monkeys, DEI Initiatives, And Payments To Deceased People

With the federal government’s 2024 spending climbing to a staggering $6.75 trillion, President-elect Donald Trump is turning to two of America’s most disruptive business minds, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to shake things up. Leading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk and Ramaswamy are taking on the monumental task of cutting through Washington’s bureaucratic excess, bloated agencies, and frivolous spending.

Working outside the usual federal structures, DOGE will aim to “dismantle bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies,” according to Trump’s announcement. John Hart, CEO of Open the Books, a watchdog group known for scrutinizing federal waste, described the project as a chance to rein in spending that’s been on “autopilot” for far too long.

Where’s the Money Going? Musk and Ramaswamy Find Targets in Federal Waste

In their new mission to trim the fat from government spending, Musk and Ramaswamy won’t have to look far. The federal government’s own reports reveal a laundry list of wasteful expenditures. Here’s a peek at some of the worst offenders they’re likely to address first:

Checks for the Deceased

In a mind-boggling oversight, $1.3 billion in taxpayer money was sent to deceased Americans in 2023 alone. This waste spans the IRS, Medicare, and veterans’ groups, according to RealClear Investigations. As Hart points out, Treasury could stop this by cross-checking records with a “do-not-pay” list. But lack of agency coordination means this simple solution hasn’t been implemented.

Inmate Payouts

In 2023, prisoners who were wrongly thought to be “out of work” collected $171 million in unemployment or Social Security payments. Meanwhile, Medicaid and Medicare issued $101 billion in improper payments, largely due to fraud, while the IRS lost $546 million to tax cheats. This rampant mismanagement cries out for DOGE’s intervention.

Taxpayer Dollars Funded Cruel Animal Research Overseas

In a particularly disturbing example of waste, $549,000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) went to a Russian lab for cat research that involved partial brain removal to study their walking ability. Such “research” only highlights the need for oversight in how and where taxpayer dollars are used.

Biden’s Lavish Ireland Trip

Joe and Hunter Biden’s jaunt to Ireland cost U.S. taxpayers a jaw-dropping $4 million. The expenses included $1.2 million for a sound and light show for a Biden speech and $760,000 to rent out a hotel in Dublin. With a focus on efficiency, Musk and Ramaswamy could help ensure that high-ranking officials’ travel doesn’t become a blank check for unnecessary expenses.

Outlandish NIH “Monkey Business”

From a $3.7 million gambling study on monkeys to a $477,000 project to study “transgender” monkeys, NIH’s grants have grown increasingly bizarre. The NIH also spends $33 million on “Monkey Island,” where 3,000 primates live to support research labs. For most Americans struggling with inflation and high taxes, these expenditures seem out of touch and wasteful.

COVID-19 Expenses Persist

Despite the pandemic’s official end, federal COVID spending persists. FEMA, for example, expects to spend another $70 billion by 2026 on “pandemic-related” activities. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci continues to receive $15 million in security coverage — benefits typically reserved for ex-presidents. This unchecked spending is an ideal area for Musk and Ramaswamy to tackle.

Drag Shows in Ecuador, Courtesy of U.S. Taxpayers

In 2022, the State Department awarded $20,600 to an Ecuadorian center to fund “12 drag theater performances” and a documentary. While the grant was small, it highlights how even minor programs can become wasteful distractions from real needs.

Empty Buildings and Costly Leases

A report from the Public Buildings Reform Board found that federal agencies use only 12% of their headquarters space, yet taxpayers continue to foot a $2 billion bill annually to maintain these buildings, with another $5 billion spent leasing additional office space. It’s waste like this that DOGE was built to fight.

DEI Bloat

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) alone spent nearly $39 million hiring 294 employees to enforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Musk and Ramaswamy may face controversy as they target programs like this, but many Americans see such DEI spending as unnecessary and ideologically driven.

Aid to China

The State Department funneled nearly $58.7 million to China between 2017 and 2022, including $100,000 to promote “gender equality” through New Yorker magazine cartoons. This is likely to be one of the more controversial areas for DOGE to address, as Americans question why taxpayer money is flowing to a country viewed increasingly as a rival on the world stage.

IRS Tax Dodgers and Questionable Research

Even IRS employees themselves are no strangers to tax issues. Between 2021 and 2023, IRS employees owed $50 million in unpaid taxes, but only 20 staff members faced termination. And that’s not all — the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded $350,000 to fund projects like the “history of liver disease in Egypt.” It’s another example of the agency’s focus on projects most Americans don’t see as essential.

Total Bill: $386 Billion

These areas alone add up to a shocking $386 billion in wasteful spending. If Musk and Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency is to be effective, cutting these types of expenses will be a top priority. With their business backgrounds and outsider status, they may finally be able to challenge Washington’s reckless spending habits and demand accountability.

America Needs Fiscal Discipline, Not More Government Bloat

With DOGE’s mission set to disrupt the complacency in Washington, Musk and Ramaswamy have a daunting task ahead. But with the support of President Trump and a renewed commitment to responsible government, this initiative could finally be a turning point. At a time when Americans are feeling the burden of government waste in their everyday lives, there’s never been a better opportunity to restore fiscal discipline and refocus taxpayer dollars on programs that actually serve the American people.