“I will create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms,” Trump said in remarks to the Economic Club of New York.
“Need to do it,” he added. “Can’t go on the way we are now.”
Musk, who endorsed the GOP nominee in the 2024 election, has agreed to lead the task force, “if he has the time,” Trump said.
The tech mogul, who serves as the head of Tesla and SpaceX and is the owner of the social platform X, signaled Thursday he was willing.
“I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises,” Musk posted on X. “No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.”
He said in an earlier post that the commission would “unlock tremendous prosperity for America.”
Musk first brought up the concept during a conversation with the former president that was broadcast on X last month, suggesting such a panel could study the national debt and how Congress could reassess spending.
But it’s unclear what concrete cuts the group might come up with, and some Democrats have expressed skepticism that the commission would be a serious effort.
The Hill’s Brett Samuels has more here.