Trump Alleges ‘Tremendous Kickbacks’ in US Government Contracts

US President Donald Trump claims there are massive kickbacks in government contracts, raising concerns about corruption and accountability in federal spending.

Former US President Donald Trump has raised concerns about widespread corruption within the American government and pledged to address the inefficiencies in bureaucracy that cost the country billions of dollars.

On Tuesday, the president gave his speech in the Oval Office, accompanied by Elon Musk—head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a close ally. They both stood beside the Resolute Desk to present their plan for reducing government spending.

Trump specifically mentioned agreements between the government and private contractors, recalling a particular instance where an unnamed consultant was hired for three months yet continued to receive payments over a span of 20 years.

“I see a lot of kickbacks, and they’re significant. It’s hard to believe anyone could be so naive as to award some of these contracts,” he argued.

In the meantime, Trump mentioned that billions of dollars are lost to “waste, fraud, and abuse,” commenting that “nobody had any idea it was that bad, that sick, and that corrupt.” He emphasized his commitment to fighting corruption as a core promise in his campaign and stated he intended to fulfill exactly that.

Reflecting the president’s statements, Musk observed that “there are several individuals within the bureaucracy who officially earn a few hundred thousand dollars yet have somehow amassed tens of millions.” He added that both the Trump administration and DOGE aim “to restore democracy.”

He also pointed out that the US must implement significant reforms. “We’re facing a $2 trillion budget deficit, and if we don’t address this issue, the country will be heading towards bankruptcy,” Musk stated.

Trump also expressed disapproval of the US judiciary for trying to prevent DOGE from auditing government agencies, especially the Treasury Department’s payment system. He remarked, “I’m perfectly okay with seeking a Congressional vote to uncover fraud and abuse… Why would any judge want to hinder our efforts in exposing such fraud and incompetence?”

Although Trump has maintained that the purpose of audits is to root out corruption, critics have charged Musk and his agency with overstepping their authority, attempting to dismantle essential government programs, and possibly misusing sensitive data for political motives.

In its efforts to address government inefficiency, the Trump administration has taken action against the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is Washington’s main channel for funding international political projects. Most foreign aid through this agency has been suspended. Previously, the US president advocated for shutting down USAID, describing it as being managed by “radical lunatics.”