President-elect Donald Trump's newly appointed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-chairs, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, prepare to tackle one of Washington's most contentious spending issues.

According to The Epoch Times, DOGE's ambitious plan to examine and reduce the Pentagon's massive $895.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 faces significant challenges from various stakeholders and national security concerns.

The initiative comes at a critical time as the Department of Defense failed its seventh consecutive annual audit, prompting renewed scrutiny from lawmakers across party lines. This development has created an unusual alliance between conservative budget hawks and progressive politicians who view the Pentagon's spending as excessive and inefficient.

Pentagon's Failed Audits Spark Bipartisan Push for Reform

The Defense Department's history of failed audits and opaque accounting practices has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle.

Veterans' benefits and services alone account for $364.8 billion of the budget, representing more than a third of military discretionary spending for the upcoming fiscal year. This substantial allocation demonstrates the complex nature of military spending beyond weapons and operations.

Policy experts warn that reducing the defense budget faces multiple obstacles, including increasing global threats and strong resistance from defense industry lobbyists. The Pentagon's projected budget growth, expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2034, adds urgency to DOGE's cost-cutting mission.

Senior fellow at the Cato Institute, Eric Gomez, emphasizes that international instability could complicate efforts to reduce military spending. Rising tensions in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia present significant challenges to budget reduction initiatives.

F-35 Program Emerges as Prime Target for Cost Reduction

DOGE co-chair Elon Musk has specifically criticized the Lockheed Martin F-35 program, which stands as the Defense Department's most expensive weapons system in U.S. history. The program's total costs are projected to exceed $2 trillion through 2088, with sustainment costs alone increasing by 44 percent since 2018.

John Boyd Jr. of the Boyd Company, who has experience working with major aerospace contractors, points to the F-35 project as an example of potential cost-saving opportunities. His assessment suggests that streamlining procurement processes could lead to more efficient project completion without compromising national security.

The Government Accountability Office reports that weapon system maintenance consumes approximately 70 percent of total life-cycle costs, presenting another area for potential savings.

Bipartisan Support Grows Despite Washington Resistance

Notable progressive leaders, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ro Khanna, have expressed support for DOGE's defense spending reduction goals. Sanders highlighted the need for change, noting the limited opposition to previous defense budgets:

Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change.

William D. Hartung and Julia Gledhill, experts from the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, suggest limiting emergency spending powers as one approach to controlling military expenditures. However, they acknowledge the significant political challenges ahead:

That, however, will undoubtedly prove a tough political fight, given how many stakeholders—from Pentagon officials to those corporate executives to compromised members of Congress—benefit from such spending sprees.

Strategic Challenges Ahead for Budget Reform

The Trump administration's future defense strategy must balance cost reduction with maintaining military readiness. Experts suggest that regional allies like Japan and South Korea could increase their military investments to reduce the U.S. spending burden in Asia. This approach would allow for a smaller, more cost-effective force posture while maintaining strategic capabilities.

DOGE faces the complex task of identifying areas for cost reduction without compromising national security interests. The initiative must navigate between maintaining necessary military capabilities and eliminating wasteful spending practices that have persisted for decades.

Achieving meaningful defense budget reforms will require careful consideration of various factors, including personnel costs, weapons procurement, and international commitments. Success depends on building sufficient political support while addressing legitimate national security concerns.

Mission Critical Next Steps for Pentagon Budget Reform

DOGE's initiative to reduce the Pentagon's $895.2 billion budget represents a significant shift in federal spending policy under the incoming Trump administration. Co-chairs Musk and Ramaswamy will lead efforts to identify inefficiencies and implement cost-saving measures across the Defense Department's operations.

The success of this ambitious undertaking depends on navigating complex political dynamics, addressing legitimate security concerns, and building broad-based support for reform.

While facing considerable challenges from defense contractors and traditional military spending advocates, the initiative has garnered unusual bipartisan backing, suggesting potential for meaningful change in Pentagon budget practices.