Trump criticizes 'tremendous kickbacks' in US government contracts
According to Donald Trump, the US has incurred losses amounting to billions of dollars as a result of governmental corruption and mismanagement. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
America has lost billions of taxpayer dollars to “waste, fraud, and abuse,” according to statements by the president.
U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns about the widespread corruption in the American government and pledged to address the inefficient bureaucracy that he claims costs the nation billions.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump spoke alongside Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, as they discussed their plans to reduce government spending.
Trump specifically highlighted problematic contracts between the government and private contractors, sharing one example where a consultant—whose identity was not disclosed—was engaged for three months yet continued to receive payments for over 20 years. “I see a lot of kickbacks. Tremendous kickbacks. Because nobody could be so stupid to give some of these contracts,” he stated.
In his remarks, Trump asserted that billions are lost “in waste, fraud, and abuse,” adding that “nobody had any idea it was that bad, that sick, and that corrupt.” He reinforced his campaign’s commitment to fighting corruption, emphasizing his intention to take decisive action.
Musk echoed the president’s sentiments, pointing out that “there are quite a few people in the bureaucracy who have ostensibly a salary of a few hundred thousand dollars but somehow managed to accrue tens of millions of dollars.” He remarked that the mission of the Trump administration and DOGE is “to restore democracy.”
Musk further emphasized the urgency for significant reforms, stating, “We’ve got a $2 trillion [budget] deficit. And if we don’t do something about this deficit, the country’s going bankrupt.”
Additionally, Trump criticized the U.S. judiciary for impeding DOGE’s efforts to audit government agencies, especially the Treasury Department's payment system. “If I need a vote of Congress to find fraud and abuse, it’s fine with me… How could a judge want to hold us back from finding all of this fraud and finding all of this incompetence?” he asked.
While Trump has maintained that the purpose of audits is to root out corruption, critics have accused Musk and his agency of overstepping their authority, potentially dismantling vital government programs, and misusing sensitive information for political gain.
As part of the initiative to reduce government inefficiency, the Trump administration has taken action against the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is responsible for funding political projects overseas, by halting most foreign aid. Earlier, the president called for the agency's closure, stating it is managed by “radical lunatics.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns about the widespread corruption in the American government and pledged to address the inefficient bureaucracy that he claims costs the nation billions.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump spoke alongside Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, as they discussed their plans to reduce government spending.
Trump specifically highlighted problematic contracts between the government and private contractors, sharing one example where a consultant—whose identity was not disclosed—was engaged for three months yet continued to receive payments for over 20 years. “I see a lot of kickbacks. Tremendous kickbacks. Because nobody could be so stupid to give some of these contracts,” he stated.
In his remarks, Trump asserted that billions are lost “in waste, fraud, and abuse,” adding that “nobody had any idea it was that bad, that sick, and that corrupt.” He reinforced his campaign’s commitment to fighting corruption, emphasizing his intention to take decisive action.
Musk echoed the president’s sentiments, pointing out that “there are quite a few people in the bureaucracy who have ostensibly a salary of a few hundred thousand dollars but somehow managed to accrue tens of millions of dollars.” He remarked that the mission of the Trump administration and DOGE is “to restore democracy.”
Musk further emphasized the urgency for significant reforms, stating, “We’ve got a $2 trillion [budget] deficit. And if we don’t do something about this deficit, the country’s going bankrupt.”
Additionally, Trump criticized the U.S. judiciary for impeding DOGE’s efforts to audit government agencies, especially the Treasury Department's payment system. “If I need a vote of Congress to find fraud and abuse, it’s fine with me… How could a judge want to hold us back from finding all of this fraud and finding all of this incompetence?” he asked.
While Trump has maintained that the purpose of audits is to root out corruption, critics have accused Musk and his agency of overstepping their authority, potentially dismantling vital government programs, and misusing sensitive information for political gain.
As part of the initiative to reduce government inefficiency, the Trump administration has taken action against the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is responsible for funding political projects overseas, by halting most foreign aid. Earlier, the president called for the agency's closure, stating it is managed by “radical lunatics.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
