The billionaire is head of the newly created Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Billionaire Elon Musk says the US will go bankrupt without budget cuts.
Musk, who is leading a campaign to cut spending under the newly created Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spoke at the White House with President Donald Trump, who has issued multiple executive orders in recent weeks aimed at reducing federal spending.
In particular, Musk took aim at the nation's budget deficit, which reached $1.8 trillion in the last fiscal year. He stressed that reducing federal spending is not a matter of choice.
The Trump administration is on a collision course with the US courts. Federal judges have questioned the legality of the cost-cutting measures.
Trump's sweeping plans, which have effectively shut down some federal agencies and sent employees home, have sparked court battles across the country.
Multiple lawsuits aim to stop what opponents describe as an illegal power grab.
Asked about the conflict-of-interest allegations, Musk, who runs SpaceX and Tesla, said he strives to be as transparent as possible.
The DOGE team has also caused alarm among critics by gaining access to the personal and financial data of millions of Americans through the U.S. Treasury Department. | BGNES