Elon Musk’s DOGE targets CMS in $1T spending overhaul, sparking legal battle

Photo: Trevor Cokley/U.S. Air Force via Wikimedia Commons

The federal Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, which is referred to as DOGE, is training its sights on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DOGE representatives have been on site at the agency to examine spending data for potential fraud or waste and review the agency’s organization and staffing, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The DOGE team requested access to CMS systems, which manage more than $1 trillion in annual payments, in early February. The request is part of a plan to cut federal spending by $1 trillion, with Medicaid cuts likely. CMS spent more than $1.5 trillion on health-care programs in fiscal year 2024, accounting for 22 percent of total federal spending, according to the agency’s 2024 annual report.  “Yeah, this is where the big money fraud is happening,” Musk posted on X.