Is Fort Knox’s gold still there? Trump backs DOGE effort to find out

• President Trump supports an audit of Fort Knox’s gold reserves, led by Elon Musk and DOGE, amid concerns over transparency and the lack of yearly audits.
• Fort Knox holds over 8,100 tonnes of gold, valued at $425 billion, but has only been opened to unauthorized personnel three times in its history.
• Sen. Rand Paul has advocated for greater transparency, echoing his father Ron Paul’s 2011 push for an audit, citing concerns about the gold’s existence and its role in backing the dollar.
• Fort Knox’s gold depository is one of the world’s most secure facilities, but its secrecy has fueled conspiracy theories and public skepticism.
• Trump and Musk’s push for an audit highlights broader concerns about government accountability and the need for public verification of the gold reserves.

President Donald Trump is supporting an effort led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to confirm the presence of the nation’s gold reserves at Fort Knox.

The push comes amid concerns raised by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and others that the legendary Kentucky depository, which holds more than half of the U.S. gold supply, has not undergone a yearly audit in decades. With over 8,100 tonnes of gold reportedly stored at Fort Knox — valued at approximately $425 billion — the stakes are high for ensuring the reserves are intact.

Fort Knox, a symbol of American wealth and security, has long been shrouded in secrecy. The U.S. Bullion Depository, built in 1937, houses 147.3 million troy ounces of gold, according to the U.S. Mint. Yet, despite its iconic status, the facility has only opened its doors to unauthorized personnel three times in its history — most recently in 2017, when then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) confirmed the gold’s presence.

Sen. Rand Paul has been vocal about the need for greater transparency, stating he has sought to verify the gold’s existence for over a decade. “I think the more sunlight, the better; more transparency, the better,” Paul told FOX & Friends. “It brings attention to the fact that gold still has value and implicitly, not explicitly, but implicitly, gold still gives value to the dollar.”

Paul’s concerns echo those of his father, former presidential candidate Ron Paul, who proposed a bill in 2011 to audit Fort Knox’s gold. Critics argue that without regular audits, the public cannot be certain the gold is still there — a concern amplified by conspiracy theories and the lack of public access to the facility.

How Fort Knox safeguards the gold

Fort Knox’s gold depository is one of the most secure facilities in the world. Built with 16,000 cubic feet of granite, 4,200 cubic yards of concrete, and over 1,400 tons of steel, the vault is designed to withstand virtually any threat. The exact procedures for accessing the gold are known only to a select few, and no single individual has complete knowledge of the security measures.

Despite its impenetrable reputation, the facility has faced scrutiny over the years. In 1974, amid rumors of looting, a congressional delegation and journalists were allowed inside to confirm the gold’s presence. Similarly, in 2017, Mnuchin and McConnell’s visit aimed to dispel conspiracy theories. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has since assured the public that “all the gold is present and accounted for,” though he has offered to arrange inspections for interested senators.

Trump’s support for the DOGE audit marks a significant development in the ongoing debate. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “We’re going to go into Fort Knox to make sure the gold is there… If the gold isn’t there, we’re going to be very upset.”

Elon Musk, who leads DOGE, has also taken to social media to advocate for transparency. “Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox?” Musk wrote on X. “Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.” He later suggested a live video walkthrough of the facility, calling it “fire” in a post accompanied by fire emojis.

The push to audit Fort Knox’s gold reserves underscores broader concerns about government accountability and the role of gold in backing the U.S. dollar. While Treasury officials maintain that the gold is secure and regularly audited, the lack of public access and yearly reviews has fueled skepticism. With Trump and Musk leading the charge, the effort to open Fort Knox’s vaults could provide much-needed transparency and will hopefully indicate the gold is exactly where it should be.

Sources for this article include:

FoxBusiness.com

FoxBusiness.com

Axios.com

APNews.com