Elon Musk Defends 'Doge' Team's Actions Amid Transparency Criticism

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In a press appearance on Tuesday alongside former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk claimed that his "Doge" team is committed to maximum transparency while restructuring federal agencies. Musk's remarks came during his first media interaction since arriving in Washington, defending aggressive cost-cutting measures aimed at removing career officials he views as obstacles.

According to Musk, some officials at the now-restructured USAid have been involved in fraudulent activities, including kickbacks, but he provided no evidence to support these assertions. Despite claiming that the Doge team's activities are highly transparent, reports indicate that Musk has moved to conceal the identities of his staff and limit public disclosure of his own financial interests as a "special government employee."

The Doge initiative, which operates under the White House's leadership, has reportedly reshaped about 20 agencies. Critics have raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, particularly as Musk's companies are under scrutiny from some of the same agencies he is restructuring. Musk acknowledged the possibility of mistakes in the process but asserted his willingness to correct any errors.

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