Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has identified federal entitlement programs, including Social Security, as primary targets for spending reductions, citing significant fraud and waste.
In a televised interview, Musk estimated that fraud within these programs amounts to $500 billion to $700 billion, a figure substantially higher than watchdog reports. For instance, the Social Security Administration’s inspector general reported from fiscal years 2015 to 2022 there was $71.8 billion in improper payments, representing less than 1% of benefits disbursed during that period.
Musk also claimed that approximately 20 million deceased individuals are still listed as alive in the Social Security database. However, Lee Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner, clarified that these records do not necessarily indicate ongoing benefit payments.
Despite President Donald Trump’s assurances to protect Social Security, Musk has labeled the program “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
Musk stated on-air Monday that entitlement programs are “a mechanism by which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants by essentially paying them to come here and then turning them into voters,” a notion aligning with the controversial “great replacement” theory.
Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures have sparked bipartisan concerns, particularly regarding potential impacts on vulnerable populations. His approach has also led to significant federal workforce reductions, including plans to eliminate 80,000 positions within the Department of Veterans Affairs, affecting a workforce where veterans constitute approximately 30%.
Furthermore, DOGE’s operations have faced scrutiny for their opacity. A federal judge recently ordered the agency to release certain records, citing its “unusual secrecy” and emphasizing the necessity for transparency given its unprecedented authority.
As DOGE advances its mission to curtail government spending, the debate over balancing fiscal responsibility with the provision of essential services continues to intensify.
