Pentagon’s $80M waste exposed: How Musk’s DOGE Team is draining the swamp

By willowt // 2025-03-05

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The DOD has uncovered $80 million in wasteful spending, thanks to the efforts of Elon Musk’s DOGE, signaling a potential overhaul of Pentagon expenditures.
The wasteful spending includes millions on DEI initiatives and climate change research, which DOD spokesperson Sean Parnell criticizes as distractions from the military’s core mission of national defense.
Musk’s DOGE team, known for cost-cutting and efficiency, is working with the DOD to address waste, redundancies and bloated headquarters staffing, drawing on Musk’s track record of transforming industries.
Although $80 million is a small portion of Pentagon's $850 billion budget, it represents a significant move towards accountability and refocusing on core defense priorities, with promises of further cuts and a commitment to wise spending.

In a not-so-surprising revelation that underscores the rampant waste and misplaced priorities within the federal government, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced Monday that it has identified $80 million in wasteful spending — thanks to the relentless efforts of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This is just the beginning of what promises to be a sweeping overhaul of Pentagon spending, but it raises serious questions about how taxpayer dollars have been squandered for years on programs that have nothing to do with national defense. The findings, unveiled by DOD spokesperson Sean Parnell, expose a litany of frivolous expenditures, including millions funneled into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and climate change research projects that have no place in the military’s core mission. As Parnell bluntly stated in a social media post, “This is not what we do. This is a distraction from our core mission.”

DEI and climate research: A distraction from defense

Among the most egregious examples of waste is the 1.9 million earmarked by the Air Force for “holistic DEI transformation and training.” Another 3.5 million was spent by the Defense Human Resources Activity to support DEI groups. Meanwhile, the University of Montana received 6 million to “strengthen American democracy by bridging divides,” and the University of Florida was granted 1.6 million to study “social and institutional determinants of vulnerability and resilience to climate hazards in the Sahel region of Africa.” These programs, funded through the Minerva Research Initiative — a DOD program launched in 2008 — are ostensibly meant to address global regions of “strategic importance to the U.S.” But as Parnell rightly pointed out, they are far removed from the military’s primary responsibility: defending the nation. “This stuff is just not a core function of our military,” Parnell said in a video posted to X. “This is a distraction.” The fact that such programs were ever approved is a damning indictment of the bureaucratic bloat and misplaced priorities that have plagued the Pentagon for decades. It’s a reminder of why the American people demanded change—and why leaders like Elon Musk and his DOGE team are stepping up to deliver it.

Musk’s DOGE: A lean, mean, cost-cutting machine

Elon Musk’s DOGE team, working in tandem with the DOD, has already proven its worth by identifying these wasteful expenditures. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has welcomed Musk’s involvement, stating, “There are wastes, redundancies and headcounts in headquarters that need to be addressed.” Musk’s reputation for efficiency is well-documented. After acquiring Twitter (now X), he slashed the company’s workforce by more than half, cutting costs and boosting profitability. His approach to government waste is no different. As Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) noted in a recent interview, “We’re talking about people who have transformed whole industries: space, automobile, energy, even healthcare. We need that mindset in government.” Waltz, who recently resigned from Congress to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s national security advisor, expressed confidence in DOGE’s ability to cut trillions from the federal budget. “The balance sheet just isn’t sustainable anymore,” he said. “We shouldn’t wait until we go off the financial cliff to start taking meaningful action.”

A drop in the bucket — but a start

While 80 million is a fraction of the Pentagon’s $850 billion budget, it’s a significant step in the right direction. Parnell emphasized that this is “just the start,” with more cuts expected in the coming weeks. “We are working hand in glove with DOGE,” he said. “Stay tuned as we trim the fat, preserve the muscle, and make the DOD more mission-capable and more lethal.” Critics may argue that the savings are negligible, but they miss the bigger picture. This is about more than just dollars and cents—it’s about restoring accountability and refocusing the military on its core mission. It’s about ensuring that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely, not wasted on pet projects and ideological initiatives.

A return to fiscal responsibility

The collaboration between the DOD and DOGE marks a turning point in the fight against government waste. For too long, bureaucrats have treated taxpayer money as a bottomless piggy bank, funding programs that serve no practical purpose. Now, thanks to the efforts of Musk and his team, that era is coming to an end. As Parnell put it, “We believe that these initial findings will probably save $80 million in wasteful spending.” But the real victory lies in the message it sends: the days of unchecked spending and misplaced priorities are over. The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one that squanders their hard-earned money on frivolous programs. With leaders like Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth at the helm, we’re finally seeing progress toward that goal. The swamp is being drained—one wasteful program at a time. Stay tuned. The best is yet to come. Sources include: NYPost.com WashingtonExaminer.com TheHill.com Bloomberg.com