DOGE Exposes 312 Million Dollars in COVID Loans to 11-Year-Olds

The Department of Government Efficiency has uncovered 312 million dollars in COVID relief loans wrongly disbursed to children as young as 11 years old. Led by Elon Musk DOGE’s probe reveals shocking oversight failures in pandemic aid programs. Taxpayers now demand accountability for this massive waste of public funds.

DOGE’s audit found thousands of loans issued under the Paycheck Protection Program went to ineligible minors. Investigators say lax verification let 11-year-olds claim funds meant for struggling businesses. The 312 million dollar figure stunned officials already wary of fraud in the rushed relief rollout.

Musk blasted the findings as proof of government bloat vowing to root out every dollar of misuse. The loans part of a 2 trillion dollar 2020 package aimed to save jobs during lockdowns. Instead DOGE reports show kids with no employees pocketed checks exposing a broken system.

Lawmakers on both sides expressed outrage with some calling for criminal probes into the disbursements. The Small Business Administration which oversaw the program admitted flaws but blamed hasty implementation. DOGE’s discovery adds fuel to efforts to claw back misspent billions from that era.

Parents or guardians likely applied on behalf of the children though intent remains under investigation. Some loans hit 50000 dollars each raising questions about how such sums went unnoticed. Musk’s team plans to release a full report detailing the scope of this and other waste soon.

The findings bolster Trump’s push to shrink federal spending with DOGE as his efficiency hammer. Critics warn the cuts could harm legitimate aid recipients if reforms overreach. Still the image of 11-year-olds cashing relief checks has ignited public fury over accountability.

Past audits flagged billions in improper COVID payments but none this egregious by age. DOGE’s 312 million dollar haul marks its biggest scalp yet in a mission to trim fat from Washington. Republicans cheer the expose as vindication of their long-held waste warnings.

With Musk at the helm DOGE aims to save trillions over Trump’s term starting with scandals like this one. The loan debacle now heads to Congress for hearings on tightening aid oversight. For taxpayers it’s a stark lesson in how fast emergency funds can veer off course.