President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he wants Elon Musk to extend his role within the administration following what he described as a major discovery by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where Musk currently leads efforts to root out waste and mismanagement.
According to Trump, Musk and his team at DOGE uncovered a “horrible” issue within a federal agency, though specific details have not yet been disclosed publicly. The president hinted at the seriousness of the matter during a press conference, describing it as a potential scandal involving either misappropriated funds or systemic abuse within a government contract.
“Elon found something terrible today. Something very wrong. And that’s why I want him to stay on,” Trump stated. He praised Musk’s ability to “cut through the bureaucracy” and emphasized that his continued involvement is critical to ongoing investigations and reforms.
The discovery reportedly came as part of an internal audit initiative launched under Musk’s direction, aimed at identifying redundancies, outdated programs, and financial inefficiencies across the federal government. DOGE has been conducting agency-by-agency reviews, with Musk given broad authority to recommend closures, consolidations, or contract terminations.
Sources within the administration confirmed that documentation related to the discovery is being compiled and reviewed, with potential legal referrals under consideration. White House officials said further information would be released once internal protocols are followed.
Musk has not commented directly on the latest findings, but he recently hinted on social media that the work at DOGE was “just getting started,” suggesting more revelations could be on the horizon.
The president’s push for Musk to remain past his expected departure date comes as the administration prepares for a broader phase of restructuring within federal agencies. Trump reiterated that Musk’s role, whether formal or advisory, will remain integral as reforms continue to unfold.
“Elon’s presence in the administration has changed everything,” Trump said. “He’s not leaving until we clean this up.”