ISTANBUL

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday reaffirmed the Department of Defense's (DOD) commitment to passing a clean audit, welcoming Elon Musk's efforts regarding cutting government spending.

“American taxpayers deserve to know exactly how and where their money is spent,” the Pentagon said in a statement, quoting Hegseth's interview with the media. “We need to know when we spend dollars; we need to know where they're going and why.”

Hegseth welcomed Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), highlighting its role in identifying ways to streamline audits, fast-track acquisitions, and reduce waste.

Musk, a key supporter of President Donald Trump, serves as a “special government employee” leading DOGE, which is tasked with cutting federal spending.

The secretary also outlined key defense priorities, including modernizing the nuclear triad and developing an Iron Dome defense system for the US. Nuclear triad refers to a three-sided military-force structure consisting of land-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear-missile-armed submarines, and strategic aircraft with nuclear bombs and missiles.

These initiatives will be reflected in the fiscal year 2026 defense budget and beyond, he added.

On Asia-Pacific policy, Hegseth emphasized maintaining a strategic edge over China, saying, “We want the future of the world to be free.”

He added, “We're confronting threats in real-time, restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, reestablishing deterrence.”

Hegseth will depart Washington on Monday for a week-long trip to Germany, Belgium, and Poland, including a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels.