A former U.S. government official has made a shocking claim that the United States has spent $21 trillion on building secret underground “cities” and bases for the ultra-wealthy and government elites to use in case of a near-extinction level event.
The claim was made by Catherine Austin Fitts, who once served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush. She made these remarks during an interview on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, as reported by Realtor.com.
Where Did the $21 Trillion Go?
Fitts based her claim on a 2017 report by Michigan State University economist Mark Skidmore, which stated that $21 trillion in “unauthorized spending” occurred between 1998 and 2015 in U.S. government departments — including the Department of Defense and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
One part of the report cited that the Army had $6.5 trillion in unsupported budget adjustments in 2015 alone. That amount is 54 times more than its entire approved budget of $122 billion, which raised serious concerns about transparency and accounting practices.
Claims of Secret Underground Bases
According to Fitts, her years of investigation led her to believe that this missing money was spent on 170 secret underground facilities across the United States.
“One of the things I’ve looked at… is the underground base, city infrastructure, and transportation system that’s been built,” she said.
She further claimed that some of these bases are built under oceans and are linked through hidden transportation systems. However, she did not provide specific locations or detailed proof of these underground bases.
Who Are the Bases For?
While the details remain unclear, Fitts claimed that the facilities are designed to be used during a “near-extinction event” — such as a nuclear war, climate catastrophe, or major space-related disaster.
She also suggested that some of these underground bases are used for “secret” government operations, possibly linked to a classified space program.
Carlson, the host, suggested such facilities would be in places like Washington, D.C., to protect officials during a nuclear threat, to which Fitts agreed but added, “It’s preparation for catastrophe.”
No Public Evidence Yet
So far, there has been no independent verification of these claims. The U.S. government has not confirmed the existence of these underground facilities. Details about their locations, purpose, or who would be allowed access during a crisis are still unknown.