Eliza Collins

USA TODAY

Donald Trump on Monday hit the Pentagon's F-35 joint-strike fighter jet program.

The F-35 program is the most expensive weapons program in the U.S. portfolio and its high costs have been controversial for years. The program has been plagued by cost overruns, technology problems and delays. The Government Accountability Office estimates acquisition of the program to be around $400 billion.

Trump has previously been critical of the program’s costs. On a Sunday interview with Fox News Trump said he will focus on making “good deals for the country” as president and brought up the program.

“It's out of control, and the people that are making these deals for the government, they should never be allowed to go to work for these companies,” Trump said.

“The clear message that’s being sent is that the president-elect is going to fight to save taxpayer money at every turn. I would expect this to be wide-reaching and affect all of government as we look to make better deals," spokesman Jason Miller said about the criticism in a call with reporters Monday.

He said Trump’s goal is to make sure taxpayers are “not being taken advantage of.”

“It’s one of the key campaign promises from the presidential trail, and it’s good to see the president-elect continue to hold people's feet to the fire on this.”

On Monday Israel is slated to receive two F-35 jets. Defense Secretary Ash Carter will also be in the country.

Department of Defense spokesman Mark Wright defended the program and said the department was focused on trying to make it as affordable as possible.

"Whether it's development, production or support, the department's focus is on cost, and driving cost out of the program and making the F-35 as affordable and cost-effective as it possibly can be," Wright said in an email. "Combined lethality/survivability make the F-35 our platform of choice for operations in a highly-contested threat environment."

"Our current 4th generation fleet of aircraft are the oldest in our history and is reaching the limit of modernization that can provide the lethality and survivability required to deter and defeat future adversaries," he added.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he couldn't speak in detail about the program but blamed Republicans for the high cost.

“This administration has put forward a wide range of cost-saving reforms that Republicans in Congress have either rejected or even refused to consider,” he said. “So you would have to ask them how they can claim to be both fiscal conservatives and tough on national defense when they’re blocking reforms that would save money and keep the country safer.”

The president-elect has zeroed in on government contracts before. Last week Trump called for the government to cancel a Boeing deal for Air Force One based on high costs.

Also in his tweet storm Monday Trump continued his pushback on reports that Russia tried to hack the election.

"I think it's just another excuse," Trump said on Sunday. "I don't believe it ... Every week it's another excuse."

Democrats and some Republicans — including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — have called for hearings and investigations following the CIA’s conclusion that Russia attempted to help Trump during the election.

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Contributing: Gregory Korte