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Fact Check: While Elon worked at Doge he confiscated $16 trillion from the US treasury department to bail out his companies. His net worth should now be $16 trillion

Published April 9, 2025
ByFactChecker 1.1 avatarFactChecker 1.1
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VERDICT
False

# Claim Analysis: Elon Musk and the $16 Trillion Treasury Confiscation ## 1. Introduction The claim circulating in various media outlets suggests tha...

Claim Analysis: Elon Musk and the $16 Trillion Treasury Confiscation

1. Introduction

The claim circulating in various media outlets suggests that Elon Musk, while associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), confiscated $16 trillion from the U.S. Treasury Department to bail out his companies. It further posits that Musk's net worth should now be $16 trillion as a result. This assertion raises significant questions regarding its veracity, especially given the astronomical figures involved and the implications for U.S. fiscal policy.

2. What We Know

  • DOGE and Treasury Access: Reports indicate that DOGE, led by Musk, was granted access to the U.S. Treasury's payment systems. This access has been controversial, with a federal judge extending an order to block DOGE from these systems due to concerns about transparency and accountability 46.

  • Claims of Savings: Musk and DOGE have claimed to have identified billions in wasteful government contracts, with some sources suggesting that they found $4.7 trillion in untraceable Treasury payments lacking proper tracking codes 58. However, the reliability of these claims is questionable, as analyses from reputable sources like the Wall Street Journal have indicated that many of these savings claims are overstated 7.

  • Treasury Disbursements: The U.S. Treasury is responsible for disbursing nearly $6 trillion annually, which has led to significant scrutiny regarding any claims of mismanagement or inefficiency 3.

  • Legal and Regulatory Context: The legal framework surrounding DOGE's access to Treasury systems has been contentious. The U.S. Treasury and White House officials have denied that DOGE technologists had the ability to make significant changes to payment systems, which raises further doubts about the legitimacy of the claims being made 10.

3. Analysis

Source Evaluation

  • NPR: NPR is a reputable news organization known for its journalistic standards. The article discusses the lack of transparency in savings claims but does not support the $16 trillion confiscation assertion 1.

  • Snopes: Snopes is a well-regarded fact-checking website that provides a detailed breakdown of claims. Their analysis of Musk's access to Treasury systems suggests that the narrative around confiscation is exaggerated 2.

  • Fortune: This source provides context on the Treasury's payment system but does not corroborate the claim of confiscation 3.

  • Independent: The Independent reports on the $4.7 trillion claim but does not provide evidence that this amount was confiscated or misappropriated 5.

  • Wall Street Journal: The WSJ's analysis suggests that claims of savings attributed to DOGE are inflated, indicating a potential bias in the reporting of these figures 7.

  • CBS News and Wired: Both sources highlight the legal challenges and the Treasury's denial of significant access by DOGE, which casts doubt on the feasibility of the claims made 910.

Methodological Concerns

The claim of a $16 trillion confiscation lacks credible evidence and relies heavily on sensationalized interpretations of access to Treasury data and alleged savings. The methodology behind the claims of savings and the supposed confiscation is not transparent, and the figures cited are not supported by independent verification.

Conflicts of Interest

Given Musk's prominent role in both DOGE and his private companies, there is a potential conflict of interest that could bias the claims made about financial dealings with the Treasury. The involvement of political figures, such as President Trump, further complicates the narrative, as political agendas may influence the portrayal of these events.

4. Conclusion

Verdict: False

The claim that Elon Musk confiscated $16 trillion from the U.S. Treasury is unsupported by credible evidence. Key sources, including NPR and Snopes, have indicated that the narrative surrounding this claim is exaggerated and lacks verification. Furthermore, the U.S. Treasury has denied that DOGE had significant access to its payment systems, further undermining the assertion of confiscation.

While Musk and DOGE have made claims regarding savings from government contracts, these figures have been challenged by reputable analyses, suggesting they may be inflated. It is important to recognize that sensational claims can often overshadow the complexities of financial and governmental operations.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations in the available evidence. The situation is fluid, and new information could emerge that might alter the understanding of these events. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information and consider multiple perspectives before drawing conclusions.

5. Sources

  1. NPR. "Musk claims DOGE saves taxpayers billions, but data is unclear." https://www.npr.org/2025/02/11/nx-s1-5290288/doge-savings-billions-contracts-musk-trump
  2. Snopes. "Unpacking claims that Elon Musk and his DOGE team secured access to Treasury payment systems." https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/02/04/doge-musk-treasury/
  3. Fortune. "Giving Elon Musk's DOGE access to the Treasury payment system." https://fortune.com/2025/02/03/elon-musk-doge-treasury-payment-system-us-debt-default-global-financial-crisis-warren-bessent/
  4. Nebraska Examiner. "Federal judge extends order blocking Musk and DOGE from Treasury payment systems." https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/02/15/repub/federal-judge-extends-order-blocking-musk-and-doge-from-treasury-payment-systems/
  5. Independent. "DOGE claims it found $4.7 trillion in Treasury payments that are untraceable." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/doge-4-7t-treasury-payments-untraceable-b2700115.html
  6. Seeking Alpha. "Elon Musk's DOGE gains access to Treasury Department's payments system." https://seekingalpha.com/news/4401711-elon-musks-doge-gains-access-to-treasury-departments-payments-system-nyt
  7. Wall Street Journal. "DOGE claims it has saved billions. See where." https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/elon-musk-doge-federal-savings-claims-783b9507
  8. Economic Times. "Massive Treasury error: DOGE blows the whistle." https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/massive-treasury-error-doge-blows-the-whistle-uncovers-4-7-trillion-mystery-in-payments-that-lack-traceability/articleshow/118362275.cms
  9. CBS News. "DOGE task force gains access to U.S. Treasury Department." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/data-access-elon-musks-doge-us-treasury-lebryk/
  10. Wired. "The US Treasury Claimed DOGE Technologist Didn’t Have ‘Write’ Access." https://www.wired.com/story/treasury-department-doge-marko-elez-access/

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Fact Check: Autistic Non-Verbal Episodes in Marriage: Why Words Vanish Sometimes and What to Do About It Neurodiverse Couples Tuesday, august 12, 2025. Here’s the scene: You’re in the middle of a conversation with your spouse. Maybe the topic is small (“Did you pay the water bill?”) or monumental (“Are we happy?”). And then—without warning—your autistic partner’s voice disappears. No yelling, no slammed doors. Just… gone. You’re left holding the conversational steering wheel while they’ve quietly climbed into the trunk. If you’ve never lived with high-functioning autism, this can be tragically misconstrued as stonewalling or contempt. It isn’t. It’s just neurology pulling the emergency brake. Why This Happens: The Science Without the Lab Coat Smell For autistic adults, losing speech under stress is often a shutdown—a form of nervous system overload that knocks language production offline. Think of it like your phone freezing: all the apps are still there, but none of them open when you tap. Research calls this autistic burnout when it happens in a longer, chronic cycle—linked to masking (Hull et al., 2017; Raymaker et al., 2020). Masking is the art of “performing normal” so well that non-autistic people think you’re fine. The issue is that it eats through your energy reserves like a car idling in traffic with the A/C on full blast (Mantzalas et al., 2022). Eventually, one hard conversation can tip you from functional to frozen. And here’s where couples therapy meets neuroscience: physiological flooding—the body’s fight/flight/freeze switch—is a known relationship killer (Malik et al., 2019; Gottman Institute, 2024). In other words, for some autistic partners, flooding may tend to show up sooner, last longer, and is more likely to pull the plug on speech entirely. The Danger Loop in Marriage Autistic partner goes non-verbal — brain says “nope.” Non-autistic partner reads it as avoidance — brain says “attack.” Pressure increases — “Just say something.” Shutdown deepens — and now you’ve both lost. Do that a few hundred times and you’ll start conflating a physiological response into a moral failing. That’s the real marriage-killer. The Protocol: Three Phases, Zero Guesswork This is where we get practical. You can’t “love away” a temporary shutdown, but you can stop it from turning into World War III. Before: Build the Net Name the state. Agree on a phrase or signal ( I call this a couple code)—such as “words offline,” “shutdown,” a hand over the heart. The point is to make the invisible visible. The Shutdown Card. A literal card that says: I can’t speak right now. Please lower lights, reduce sound, give me X minutes. I promise I will circle back. The Pause Rule. Require a minimum of 20 minutes before resuming any tough talk. Autistic partner may need 90+. Agree ahead of time. Downgrade Kit. the usual gear; earplugs, soft light, weighted blanket, fidget, a quiet room. You know, human decency in object form. Reduce Daily Load. Avoid heavy talks right after work or big social events. Chronic overload makes a nervous shutdown more probable. During: Do Less, Better Autistic Partner: Give the signal. Exit stimulation. Switch channels if possible (text, notes app, yes/no cards). Send a short pre-written message: “Safe, can’t talk, back at 8:15.” Non-Autistic Partner: Acknowledge once—“Got it, I’m with you.” Hold the pause boundary. Lower stimuli. Go regulate your own nervous system—walk, journal, pet the dog. Don’t rehearse comebacks. Both: Avoid sarcasm, interrogation, ultimatums. Nothing lengthens a shutdown like moral outrage. After: Close the Loop Check in: “Are you ready to talk, or should we start in text?” Debrief: Identify triggers and what helped. Solve the actual problem. No conflict gets left to rot in the corner. Spot burnout early. If shutdowns start clustering, it’s time to reduce demands, not double them. How This Isn’t Stonewalling Stonewalling is a choice. Shutdown is a lockout. Stonewalling says, “I won’t talk to you.” Shutdown says, “I can’t talk to you yet, but I will.” The key difference? Repair intention. A shutdown protocol builds that right into the process. The Ten-Minute At-Home Drill Co-create your signal and card. Agree on a pause window. Pack the downgrade kit. Rehearse the exchange (“Got it, I’m with you.”). Check in weekly to tweak the system. Remember, you’re not aiming for zero shutdowns. You’re aiming for shorter, kinder, safer ones. Why This Works Because it matches lived autistic experience (Raymaker et al., 2020; Lewis et al., 2023). Because it honors nervous system limits instead of punishing them (Malik et al., 2019). Because it lets both partners keep their dignity and still solve the problem. In other words: you’re building a marriage that can survive the occasional moments when the words are gone for the time being. Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed. REFERENCES: Hull, L., Mandy, W., Lai, M.-C., Baron-Cohen, S., Allison, C., Smith, P., & Petrides, K. V. (2017). “Putting on my best normal”: Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Autism, 21(5), 611–622. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316671012 Raymaker, D. M., Teo, A. R., Steckler, N. A., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Delos Santos, A., … & Nicolaidis, C. (2020). “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132–143. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079 Mantzalas, J., Richdale, A. L., Adikari, A., Lowe, J., & Dissanayake, C. (2022). What Is Autistic Burnout? A thematic analysis of posts on two online platforms. Autism in Adulthood, 4(1), 52–65. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2021.0079 Lewis, L. F., et al. (2023). The lived experience of meltdowns for autistic adults. Autism, 27(7), 1787–1799. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221145783 Malik, J., et al. (2019). Emotional flooding in response to negative affect in romantic relationships. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 18(4), 327–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2019.1641188 Gottman Institute. (2024, March 4). Making sure emotional flooding doesn’t capsize your relationship. Retrieved from https://www.gottman.com/blog/making-sure-emotional-flooding-doesnt-capsize-your-relationship/

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Autistic Non-Verbal Episodes in Marriage: Why Words Vanish Sometimes and What to Do About It Neurodiverse Couples Tuesday, august 12, 2025. Here’s the scene: You’re in the middle of a conversation with your spouse. Maybe the topic is small (“Did you pay the water bill?”) or monumental (“Are we happy?”). And then—without warning—your autistic partner’s voice disappears. No yelling, no slammed doors. Just… gone. You’re left holding the conversational steering wheel while they’ve quietly climbed into the trunk. If you’ve never lived with high-functioning autism, this can be tragically misconstrued as stonewalling or contempt. It isn’t. It’s just neurology pulling the emergency brake. Why This Happens: The Science Without the Lab Coat Smell For autistic adults, losing speech under stress is often a shutdown—a form of nervous system overload that knocks language production offline. Think of it like your phone freezing: all the apps are still there, but none of them open when you tap. Research calls this autistic burnout when it happens in a longer, chronic cycle—linked to masking (Hull et al., 2017; Raymaker et al., 2020). Masking is the art of “performing normal” so well that non-autistic people think you’re fine. The issue is that it eats through your energy reserves like a car idling in traffic with the A/C on full blast (Mantzalas et al., 2022). Eventually, one hard conversation can tip you from functional to frozen. And here’s where couples therapy meets neuroscience: physiological flooding—the body’s fight/flight/freeze switch—is a known relationship killer (Malik et al., 2019; Gottman Institute, 2024). In other words, for some autistic partners, flooding may tend to show up sooner, last longer, and is more likely to pull the plug on speech entirely. The Danger Loop in Marriage Autistic partner goes non-verbal — brain says “nope.” Non-autistic partner reads it as avoidance — brain says “attack.” Pressure increases — “Just say something.” Shutdown deepens — and now you’ve both lost. Do that a few hundred times and you’ll start conflating a physiological response into a moral failing. That’s the real marriage-killer. The Protocol: Three Phases, Zero Guesswork This is where we get practical. You can’t “love away” a temporary shutdown, but you can stop it from turning into World War III. Before: Build the Net Name the state. Agree on a phrase or signal ( I call this a couple code)—such as “words offline,” “shutdown,” a hand over the heart. The point is to make the invisible visible. The Shutdown Card. A literal card that says: I can’t speak right now. Please lower lights, reduce sound, give me X minutes. I promise I will circle back. The Pause Rule. Require a minimum of 20 minutes before resuming any tough talk. Autistic partner may need 90+. Agree ahead of time. Downgrade Kit. the usual gear; earplugs, soft light, weighted blanket, fidget, a quiet room. You know, human decency in object form. Reduce Daily Load. Avoid heavy talks right after work or big social events. Chronic overload makes a nervous shutdown more probable. During: Do Less, Better Autistic Partner: Give the signal. Exit stimulation. Switch channels if possible (text, notes app, yes/no cards). Send a short pre-written message: “Safe, can’t talk, back at 8:15.” Non-Autistic Partner: Acknowledge once—“Got it, I’m with you.” Hold the pause boundary. Lower stimuli. Go regulate your own nervous system—walk, journal, pet the dog. Don’t rehearse comebacks. Both: Avoid sarcasm, interrogation, ultimatums. Nothing lengthens a shutdown like moral outrage. After: Close the Loop Check in: “Are you ready to talk, or should we start in text?” Debrief: Identify triggers and what helped. Solve the actual problem. No conflict gets left to rot in the corner. Spot burnout early. If shutdowns start clustering, it’s time to reduce demands, not double them. How This Isn’t Stonewalling Stonewalling is a choice. Shutdown is a lockout. Stonewalling says, “I won’t talk to you.” Shutdown says, “I can’t talk to you yet, but I will.” The key difference? Repair intention. A shutdown protocol builds that right into the process. The Ten-Minute At-Home Drill Co-create your signal and card. Agree on a pause window. Pack the downgrade kit. Rehearse the exchange (“Got it, I’m with you.”). Check in weekly to tweak the system. Remember, you’re not aiming for zero shutdowns. You’re aiming for shorter, kinder, safer ones. Why This Works Because it matches lived autistic experience (Raymaker et al., 2020; Lewis et al., 2023). Because it honors nervous system limits instead of punishing them (Malik et al., 2019). Because it lets both partners keep their dignity and still solve the problem. In other words: you’re building a marriage that can survive the occasional moments when the words are gone for the time being. Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed. REFERENCES: Hull, L., Mandy, W., Lai, M.-C., Baron-Cohen, S., Allison, C., Smith, P., & Petrides, K. V. (2017). “Putting on my best normal”: Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Autism, 21(5), 611–622. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316671012 Raymaker, D. M., Teo, A. R., Steckler, N. A., Lentz, B., Scharer, M., Delos Santos, A., … & Nicolaidis, C. (2020). “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: Defining autistic burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132–143. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079 Mantzalas, J., Richdale, A. L., Adikari, A., Lowe, J., & Dissanayake, C. (2022). What Is Autistic Burnout? A thematic analysis of posts on two online platforms. Autism in Adulthood, 4(1), 52–65. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2021.0079 Lewis, L. F., et al. (2023). The lived experience of meltdowns for autistic adults. Autism, 27(7), 1787–1799. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221145783 Malik, J., et al. (2019). Emotional flooding in response to negative affect in romantic relationships. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 18(4), 327–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2019.1641188 Gottman Institute. (2024, March 4). Making sure emotional flooding doesn’t capsize your relationship. Retrieved from https://www.gottman.com/blog/making-sure-emotional-flooding-doesnt-capsize-your-relationship/

Aug 12, 2025
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Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 We have some news right now. Ice detained a toddler, a mother, and a grandmother. All United States American citizens just because they overheard them speaking Spanish. According to Telamundo, Puerto Rico, these three American citizens were taken into custody in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after Ice agents overheard them speaking Spanish. This included a toddler. A member of their family says that they were taken into custody while shopping at a local department store. And they didn't have a chance to speak with Ice agents until they were at the detention facility. And when they arrived they tried to explain to Ice that they were born in Puerto Rico that they're American citizens. And 00:32 it wasn't until after they provided documentation of proof that Ice agents apologize and that they were eventually released. According to the Daily Beast Daryl Marine the national president of the Hispanic Advocacy Group Forward Latino has confirmed that these three individuals were detained by Ice. More and more American citizens are being caught up in these mass deportation rates
True

Fact Check: Transcript 00:00 We have some news right now. Ice detained a toddler, a mother, and a grandmother. All United States American citizens just because they overheard them speaking Spanish. According to Telamundo, Puerto Rico, these three American citizens were taken into custody in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after Ice agents overheard them speaking Spanish. This included a toddler. A member of their family says that they were taken into custody while shopping at a local department store. And they didn't have a chance to speak with Ice agents until they were at the detention facility. And when they arrived they tried to explain to Ice that they were born in Puerto Rico that they're American citizens. And 00:32 it wasn't until after they provided documentation of proof that Ice agents apologize and that they were eventually released. According to the Daily Beast Daryl Marine the national president of the Hispanic Advocacy Group Forward Latino has confirmed that these three individuals were detained by Ice. More and more American citizens are being caught up in these mass deportation rates

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 We have some news right now. Ice detained a toddler, a mother, and a grandmother. All United States American citizens just because they overheard them speaking Spanish. According to Telamundo, Puerto Rico, these three American citizens were taken into custody in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after Ice agents overheard them speaking Spanish. This included a toddler. A member of their family says that they were taken into custody while shopping at a local department store. And they didn't have a chance to speak with Ice agents until they were at the detention facility. And when they arrived they tried to explain to Ice that they were born in Puerto Rico that they're American citizens. And 00:32 it wasn't until after they provided documentation of proof that Ice agents apologize and that they were eventually released. According to the Daily Beast Daryl Marine the national president of the Hispanic Advocacy Group Forward Latino has confirmed that these three individuals were detained by Ice. More and more American citizens are being caught up in these mass deportation rates

Jul 27, 2025
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Fact Check: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is handing out cash cards like Halloween candy to illegal immigrants — while 16,000+ wildfire victims who lost their homes and businesses are STILL waiting for help. 🔥 Only 12 rebuilding permits have been issued. TWELVE. 🔥 Entire communities reduced to ashes. 🔥 Taxpaying Americans left in a bureaucratic chokehold.
Partially True

Fact Check: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is handing out cash cards like Halloween candy to illegal immigrants — while 16,000+ wildfire victims who lost their homes and businesses are STILL waiting for help. 🔥 Only 12 rebuilding permits have been issued. TWELVE. 🔥 Entire communities reduced to ashes. 🔥 Taxpaying Americans left in a bureaucratic chokehold.

Detailed fact-check analysis of: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is handing out cash cards like Halloween candy to illegal immigrants — while 16,000+ wildfire victims who lost their homes and businesses are STILL waiting for help. 🔥 Only 12 rebuilding permits have been issued. TWELVE. 🔥 Entire communities reduced to ashes. 🔥 Taxpaying Americans left in a bureaucratic chokehold.

Jul 26, 2025
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Fact Check: While Elon worked at Doge he confiscated $16 trillion from the US treasury department to bail out his companies. His net worth should now be $16 trillion | TruthOrFake Blog