President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks within the Oval Workplace on the White Home, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photograph/Alex Brandon)
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President Trump and Elon Musk have vowed to uncover and remove fraud within the federal authorities, and the White Home has pointed to a latest Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) report as proof and justification for his or her ongoing efforts to take over and dismantle federal companies.
The GAO is an company beneath Congress that gives lawmakers and govt companies with details about how effectively and successfully elements of the federal authorities are conducting their work.
Thus far, the Trump administration has not proven clear proof of fraud.
As an alternative, the DOGE X account and White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have pointed to the elimination of DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — contacts and different expenditures that do not align with the administration’s political priorities.
In a memo Wednesday, the administration stated that “Trump is set to be a very good steward of taxpayer {dollars} and put an finish to fraudulent and wasteful spending” and connected the GAO’s report.
A co-author of that report, GAO Director Rebecca Shea, tells NPR that whereas authorities fraud and waste makes up an estimated 3% and seven% of federal spending, the overwhelming majority of federal spending is not fraudulent.
Shea additionally famous that the report defines fraud narrowly — and that definition would not match up with Trump and Musk’s definition. “To name one thing fraud, you have to show it in a legal or civil case,” she stated.
Shea added that discovering fraud takes a very long time and adjudicating it takes even longer — which fraudsters make the most of. In her GAO report, Shea prompt Synthetic Intelligence (AI) might assist the federal government catch the fraud.
“It may evolve much more shortly than a human may wanting on the information themselves,” Shea stated. “AI does provide promise after we’re ready to make use of the info programs. There are a good variety of precise structured information units that I believe may very well be extra readily used for fraud detection with AI capabilities, predictive modeling.”
Musk’s DOGE is reportedly engaged on a customized AI chatbot referred to as “GSAi” of their effort to chop spending, in line with the magazine WIRED.
However Shea cautioned that authorities use of AI does create its personal dangers.
“The flip aspect of that’s fraudsters are utilizing AI already to defraud federal applications,” Shea stated. “And they don’t seem to be hampered by the identical tips and legal guidelines that the U.S. authorities is in relation to AI. Fraudsters aren’t hindered in the identical manner.”
Individuals from “all walks of life” commit fraud, even these inside the federal government, Shea stated.
“Like anyplace there are going to be insider threats,” Shea stated. “There have been some authorities officers that have been within the combine. Civil servants, contractors have been additionally amongst those that have been charged by the Division of Justice.”
Whereas defending DOGE and its efforts, Musk has referred to as america a “forms” moderately than a democracy.
“A second American revolution is required to free the individuals from their oppression by the forms!” Musk posted.
“We’re blissful that individuals are utilizing our report, discovering our data helpful within the debate to try to enhance federal service,” Shea stated. “We’ve got an obligation of care to the taxpayer and we are able to do higher. And we’re hopeful that our report helps us transfer in that proper route.”
When requested immediately about Musk and the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) unit, Shea did not remark.
“I’ll abstain from offering an opinion on that,” Shea stated. “That is exterior of my wheelhouse.”
Shea stated she hasn’t personally been contacted by or labored with Musk or DOGE, although she confirmed U.S. Comptroller Normal Gene Dodaro, who has overseen GAO since 2008, has made contact with the Trump administration following the inauguration — as is customary.
Total, Shea stated the federal government is an efficient steward of tax payer {dollars} and is hopeful it should enhance.
“[Annual fraud] represents between 3% to 7% of annual federal budgets in that point interval,” Shea stated. “Sure, it is a massive quantity, however the overwhelming majority of spending isn’t fraudulent.”
