Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) joined Elon Musk in criticizing the Pentagon after it failed its seventh consecutive audit, leaving billions in taxpayer dollars unaccounted for. Sanders highlighted the $886 billion defense budget as emblematic of widespread government waste.

Taking to X, Sanders wrote, “Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon has lost track of billions while passing bloated budgets full of waste and fraud. Only 13 senators voted against this madness last year. That must change.” His remarks echoed Musk’s longstanding criticism of inefficiency in federal agencies.

Musk, recently appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has called for deep cuts to federal spending. Sanders expressed support for Musk’s efforts, emphasizing that defense expenditures should be a central focus of cost-cutting reforms.

The Pentagon’s fiscal mismanagement has drawn scrutiny for years. In 2022, the Department of Defense failed to account for 60% of its assets, yet Congress has consistently approved near-record military budgets. Critics argue that unchecked defense spending contributes to inefficiency across government.

This is not the first time Sanders and Musk have found common ground. In September, Sanders supported Musk’s comments on combating obesity to reduce public health costs. Though they typically differ on policy, their shared concerns about fiscal accountability have led to rare alignment.

Sanders’ remarks follow Trump’s pledge to eliminate waste through initiatives like DOGE. As the Pentagon faces mounting criticism, Sanders and Musk’s calls for reform may add momentum to efforts to address the military’s financial inefficiencies.