Trump Challenges Government Spending on Social Engineering Defense Program
In a new twist to ongoing government spending scrutiny, Donald Trump has called for Elon Musk to recover millions of dollars from the federal government over a secretive “social engineering defense” program funded by the Department of Defense.
This demand stems from a long-standing contract that was recently uncovered by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Mystery Contract and Its Discovery
The contract, which started in September 2018 under Trump’s administration and concluded in November 2022, was awarded to Thomas Reuters Special Services, LLC (TRSS). It totaled a hefty $9.15 million and was filed under the Pentagon’s “Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services” as well as its “Research and Development” categories.
What raised eyebrows, however, was the contract’s curious designation for a “social engineering defense,” and its connection to Reuters, the prominent news agency.
Musk’s DOGE team discovered this information and soon shared their concerns with Trump.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) confirmed that the contract aimed to enhance U.S.
cybersecurity efforts, specifically in combating cyber threats that exploit human psychology.
The Social Deception Controversy
What triggered the loud outcry from Musk, Trump, and DOGE was the phrase on the government website that listed the contract under “Active Social Engineering Defense (ASED) Large Scale Social Deception (LSD).
” Musk quickly reacted on social media, calling out the government’s payment to Reuters for a project described as dealing with “large scale social deception.”
Trump echoed this sentiment, demanding that the government retrieve the $9 million from Reuters, referring to the payments as a “scam.”
What Exactly is ASED?
The goal of the ASED program is to develop defense mechanisms against internet-based attacks, such as phishing, which are designed to manipulate human psychology for access to sensitive systems or information.
TRSS was chosen for this contract due to its expertise in fraud detection and risk management, key components in fighting social engineering and bolstering national security.
The contract’s documentation even notes that part of the funding from 2020 and beyond was related to COVID-19 relief, with additional Disaster Emergency Fund Codes (DEFC) “N” indicating emergency funds.
Trump’s Call for Recouping Funds
Trump’s demand for the Pentagon to recover the $9 million comes on the heels of a separate incident where the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under Secretary Kristi Noem, issued an order to claw back $5.9 million in improper payments.
DOGE had uncovered that FEMA had paid luxury New York City hotels to house illegal migrants, which violated direct orders signed by Trump.
This led to the firing of four top FEMA finance officers.
However, there’s also some backlash over the fact that while DOGE is cutting contracts—such as a near $1 billion reduction at the Education Department—Musk’s companies, like SpaceX, are still securing government contracts.
NASA recently awarded SpaceX a more than $38 million contract, stirring mixed reactions.
Controversy Surrounding Government Payments to News Outlets
The controversy surrounding government payments to media outlets has gained more attention recently.
Politico, another major news agency, faced backlash after it was revealed that the now-defunct U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) had made $8 million payments to the company for its Politico Pro subscription service.
Though Politico Pro provides policy tracking and analysis, critics, including Trump’s supporters, argue that such payments reflect a broader bias in legacy media.
DOGE’s Next Move
As the debate over government spending continues, DOGE is planning to release more details on the savings it has achieved for taxpayers.
On February 14, the group intends to publish a report showing how much money it has saved the federal government during its first month of operations, adding fuel to the fire over government efficiency and accountability.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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