Elon Musk recently drew attention to the substantial costs associated with federal entitlement programs, a topic stirring concern amidst potential reductions in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
In a recent discussion with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, Elon Musk expressed apprehension about the extent of federal spending on entitlement programs. He highlighted the urgency of addressing what he perceives as excessive spending, stating, “Most of the federal spending is entitlements. So that’s the big one to eliminate. That’s the sort of half trillion, maybe six, 700 billion.” Musk’s comments came in response to queries about investigating waste, fraud, and abuse within federal expenditures.
The dialogue around these entitlement programs has sparked fears that the current administration might target Social Security for cuts. However, President Donald Trump’s communication team refuted these suggestions, emphasizing in a social media post that the focus remains on rectifying wasteful practices and fraud. They stated, “Lying hacks. He was talking about waste, fraud, and abuse — of which there is $500+ billion every year.”
Musk raised questions during the interview about anomalies in Social Security records and the distribution of Small Business Administration loans. He suggested irregularities in the database, citing, “Why are there 20 million people who are definitely dead marked as alive in the social security database? Why were hundreds of millions of dollars of Small Business Administration loans given out to people aged 11 and under?”
Moreover, Trump has echoed similar concerns, albeit with inaccuracies regarding age-related data in Social Security records. Public records show a much smaller number of beneficiaries over the age of 99 than claimed. The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner, Leland Dudek, clarified that these individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits, attempting to dispel misunderstandings about the data.
Despite assurances from top GOP leaders to preserve Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits, there’s a clear intention to streamline these programs by eliminating misuse. House Speaker Mike Johnson similarly conveyed commitments to avoid reducing these benefits while ensuring efficient program operations.
Furthermore, the Social Security Administration is in the midst of a downsizing, aiming to cut approximately 7,000 jobs as part of broader organizational changes aligned with the administration’s strategy to reduce government size.
Elon Musk’s remarks have intensified discussions on federal entitlement spending, punctuating ongoing debates about fiscal responsibility and program efficiency within the government.
