As Elon Musk prepares to step down from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he shared with Fox News five of the most outrageous examples of government waste his team uncovered:
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Funding a Taliban Official: The U.S. Institute of Peace paid $132,000 to Mohammad Qasem Halimi, a former Taliban member. DOGE canceled the contract after discovering it.
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Lavish School Spending: COVID-relief funds were used by school districts for luxury expenses, including Las Vegas hotels, an MLB stadium rental, pool passes, and even an ice cream truck.
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$20M ‘Sesame Street’ in Iraq: USAID gave $20 million to Sesame Workshop to produce Ahlan Simsim Iraq, aiming to promote cultural understanding.
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$162B in Improper Payments: A GAO report found federal agencies made $162 billion in incorrect or wasteful payments, mainly in healthcare and small business programs.
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DEI Program Cuts: DOGE slashed hundreds of millions from federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, aligning with Trump’s push for a merit-based system.
Musk’s term with DOGE ends May 30 due to limits on special government employees.
