One-sentence summary: Despite high-profile claims by Elon Musk and the Trump administration, investigations have found minimal evidence of widespread fraud in the Social Security Administration, raising questions about the validity and impact of aggressive cost-cutting efforts by DOGE.
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has targeted the Social Security Administration (SSA) as a focal point in its campaign to reduce federal spending, with President Trump citing “shocking” levels of fraud and waste. Musk and Trump have claimed that millions of deceased individuals – some allegedly over 100 years old – are still receiving benefits. However, agency audits and internal reviews have consistently contradicted these assertions.
SSA data shows that improper payments account for less than 1 percent of total benefits, with most due to clerical errors or benefit status changes. Of these, only 3 percent are linked to fraud, and most overpayments are eventually recovered. An example cited by Musk – that 20 million people over 100 are collecting benefits – was debunked when SSA found that only 1,294 centenarians were receiving benefits, and just 202 of them were deceased. Agency records show that 98 percent of individuals without a recorded death date are known to be dead and are not receiving benefits.
Despite its size, Social Security was not included in the Government Accountability Office’s 2024 list of agencies with high improper payment rates. Experts and former agency officials emphasize that SSA is already one of the most heavily audited federal agencies, with an active Office of Inspector General (OIG) and strict internal controls. Some watchdogs and analysts suggest that DOGE’s claims misrepresent longstanding issues already identified by SSA’s own oversight.
DOGE has already cut contracts at the SSA and claims $50.3 million in savings, including canceling funding for a University of Wisconsin study on preventing impostor scams – a rising fraud risk that cost Americans at least $577 million last year. Critics warn that such cuts could undermine fraud prevention efforts rather than enhance them.
SSA’s OIG is expected to lose up to 20 percent of its staff due to budget reductions, even as it continues issuing detailed reports, such as one recently flagging a $14 payment error. Despite White House defense of the DOGE initiative, many experts see the accusations of widespread fraud as exaggerated and potentially harmful to effective governance.
Frankel, Todd C., and Hannah Natanson. “Why DOGE Is Struggling to Find Fraud in Social Security.” The Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2025, www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/24/social-security-fraud-doge-cuts-dead/.
Key takeaways:
- Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative claims widespread Social Security fraud, focusing on payments to deceased individuals.
- Official data contradicts these claims; only 202 deceased centenarians were found to be receiving benefits, not 20 million.
- Less than 1% of Social Security payments are improper, and only a small fraction of those involve fraud.
- SSA is among the most closely monitored government agencies, with regular internal and external audits.
- DOGE has cut several SSA contracts, including one targeting prevention of impostor scams.
- Critics warn these budget cuts may weaken fraud prevention instead of improving efficiency.
Important quotations:
- “These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits.” – Lee Dudek, SSA acting commissioner
- “The wild claims they are making – I’ve never seen anything like this.” – Kathleen Romig, former SSA analyst
- “It’s extremely closely watched.” – Nancy Altman, Social Security Works
- “You could end up making fraud worse.” – Cliff Robb, University of Wisconsin
- “We’ve already put out that report.” – Rebecca Rose, SSA OIG spokesperson
- “The American public are in lockstep with the president’s mission and will not be swayed by more lies coming from the legacy media.” – Harrison Fields, White House spokesperson
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