Mississippi Auditor Unveils $400 Million in State Waste, Dubs Office 'MOGE'

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White has revealed a staggering $400 million in government waste, humorously likening his office to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White announced the findings of a comprehensive audit that exposed approximately $400 million in wasteful spending within the state over the course of his tenure. The detailed report, set to be released on Monday, spans 800 pages and breaks down the various instances of inefficiency and abuse of public funds.

White, who playfully referred to his office as the ‘Mississippi Office of Government Efficiency’ or ‘MOGE,’ drew parallels to Elon Musk’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE) initiated during the Trump administration. “We approach our work with the same attention to every penny as DOGE, and I’m happy to be Mississippi’s Musk,” White remarked, emphasizing the meticulous oversight his team applies to state finances.

The audit highlighted significant issues, including tens of millions in Medicaid subsidies wrongly allocated to income-ineligible individuals, and exorbitant spending on items like televisions, which cost the state nearly triple what federal agencies pay for similar technology. White also pointed out wasteful expenditures in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, mentioning instances such as microaggression training for engineers and social justice yoga for preschoolers.

With 20% of Mississippi’s population living below the poverty line, White stressed the importance of efficient public spending. He cited examples of misused welfare funds, such as unbuilt community gardens and nonprofits diverting money meant for the poor to executive salaries and even beauty pageant sponsorships.

White urged all state governments to scrutinize their spending in light of the national attention on fraud, waste, and abuse, inspired by efforts like those of the Department of Justice. He mentioned ongoing discussions with other state auditors, such as Oklahoma’s Cindy Byrd, to combat government waste regionally.

As Mississippi and other states grapple with these revelations, White’s findings serve as a call to action for more rigorous oversight and accountability in government spending nationwide.