Trump Claims U.S. Debt May Be Overstated Due to Treasury Fraud

President Trump and Elon Musk's efficiency team allege fraudulent government payments could reduce the perceived national debt.

President Trump suggested the U.S. national debt, currently at $36.2 trillion, might be inflated due to fraudulent activities in the Treasury Department.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has identified potential fraud involving $50 billion annually in government entitlement payments, such as Medicare and Social Security.
Trump's comments have raised questions about the scope of fraud, but no specific evidence has been provided regarding public debt or Treasury securities.
Musk's team has introduced measures to improve payment auditing, including categorization codes and a 'do-not-pay' list for fraudulent entities.
Experts caution that even if fraud is uncovered, the potential savings would represent only a fraction of the national debt and its growing interest payments.