Representatives from Elon Musk‘s department of government efficiency (DOGE) have been working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where they were given access to the agency’s systems and technology, CMS confirmed on Wednesday.
CMS manages Medicare, which provides health insurance for older and disabled Americans, and Medicaid, which covers low-income individuals. These programs serve over 140 million people in the United States.
According to CMS, two senior agency officials, one focused on policy and the other on operations, are leading the collaboration with DOGE and ensuring proper access to CMS systems and technology.
“We are taking a thoughtful approach to see where there may be opportunities for more effective and efficient use of resources in line with meeting the goals of President Trump,” Andrew G Nixon, HHS’ director of communications, said via email, USA Today reported.
Musk, who is the world’s richest person, was assigned by President Donald Trump to identify fraud and waste within the government. In just a few days, Musk has gained significant influence over the 2.2 million-member federal workforce and begun reshaping government operations.
“We are taking a thoughtful approach to see where there may be opportunities for more effective and efficient use of resources in line with meeting the goals of President Trump,” CMS said in its statement.
CMS regularly addresses improper payments that could be due to fraud or abuse, but some of these issues may arise from administrative oversights by states, contractors, or providers.
DOGE, led by Musk, is focusing on reviewing costs across the federal government. It has gained access to systems at various agencies, including the treasury department and the US agency for international development (USAID). This review is happening as at least 20,000 federal employees have accepted a buyout offer made by President Donald Trump, with the deadline for the offer being Thursday, according to a White House official on Tuesday.
The Wall Street Journal, quoting people familiar with the matter reported that DOGE representatives have gained access to key payment and contracting systems at CMS. The representatives have been visiting the agency’s offices this week to examine the technology behind these systems and the spending that flows through them, with a focus on identifying fraud or waste. They are also reviewing CMS’s organizational structure and staffing.

Referring to the Wall Street Journal report, Musk posted on social media platform X, which he owns, saying, “This is where the big money fraud is happening,” without providing further evidence.