Musk Meets With Defense Secretary Hegseth at the Pentagon

Currently, the Pentagon is in the process of evaluating which personnel and programs to cut in order to achieve budget reductions of 5% to 8%. However, there is growing concern among lawmakers and oversight bodies about Musk’s involvement in Pentagon decisions, especially since SpaceX benefits from substantial federal contracts.

Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency has been pivotal in the Trump administration’s efforts to significantly downsize government operations. His aggressive approach to layoffs and program cuts has drawn criticism from some legislators and constituents, while supporters of the Republican president have praised his methods.

A senior official from the Defense Department informed reporters that an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 civilian positions are expected to be eliminated as part of these budgetary adjustments.

In a post on Musk’s platform, Hegseth clarified that their meeting was “NOT about ‘top secret China war plans,’” countering claims made by a newspaper article.