Following his election, Donald Trump assured NBC News that there would be no alterations to Social Security, except to enhance its efficiency. However, Elon Musk, now influential in reducing government expenses, has recently made critical remarks about the program, conflicting with Trump’s pledge and causing concern among members of the president’s own party. These worries have led some allies of Trump to question whether the billionaire should continue to conduct numerous media interviews, as reported by four sources familiar with the situation to NBC News.
A problematic statement arose during Musk’s discussion with media figure Joe Rogan in late February, where he labeled Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” A couple of weeks later, Musk once again targeted Social Security in an interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow. When addressing wasteful or deceitful entitlement spending, Musk referred to the program as “the big one to eliminate.”
Citing a 2024 Government Accountability Office report estimating potential annual losses of between “$233 billion and $521 billion” to fraud by the federal government, Musk highlighted the need to address waste and fraud in entitlement spending, which he deemed the primary federal spending area.
Acknowledging that there are concerns over Musk’s remarks, a Trump advisor stated that Trump allies from various sectors have communicated to the White House that Musk should be restrained in his public appearances or should follow a more scripted approach. A White House official, speaking anonymously, expressed sympathy for the apprehension felt by some Republicans regarding Musk’s comments on Social Security, particularly among the elderly.
The official clarified that Musk’s personal views on Social Security do not impact Trump’s policies, emphasizing that Trump trusts Musk’s decisions and highlighting Musk’s efforts to enhance the program. They reassured that Social Security beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits without change.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, is to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, saving billions for American taxpayers. This effort is endorsed by President Trump to ensure government serves the people’s interests. A Republican lawmaker, unaware of the White House discussions, acknowledged the need for Social Security reform to prevent its collapse and safeguard government stability.
Criticism of the system is mounting. Some argue it is not a Ponzi scheme but rather an entitlement program in need of reform. With more interviews from Musk, discussions are expected to escalate, potentially shaping the 2026 campaign. As Musk’s popularity wanes, there are predictions of negative ad campaigns targeting him. Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service has made significant cuts in federal government agencies, though Social Security remains a challenging target due to its political sensitivity and widespread support. Despite Musk’s efforts to downsize Social Security, bipartisan pushback is emerging. Democrats view Musk’s actions as an opportunity to gain political advantage, particularly focusing on his proposals to reduce Social Security services. Republicans are also expressing concerns over Musk’s approach. Although Musk’s rhetoric suggests support from the administration, President Trump remains cautious about touching Social Security, a popular and successful government program. The administration’s stance is clear: there will be no changes to Social Security under Trump’s leadership. Despite Musk’s influence, officials emphasize that his views do not reflect official policies. Trump may entertain tweaks to improve efficiency, but any major changes to entitlement spending, as proposed by Musk, would be challenging to implement without impacting benefits. Musk’s claims about Social Security payments to undocumented immigrants and other misinformation have stirred controversy and may appeal to Trump’s priorities. While Trump aims to curb waste and abuse, reducing fraud is unlikely to significantly impact Social Security spending. Musk’s ambitious plan to cut federal spending by trillions is viewed as unrealistic without addressing entitlement programs like Social Security.
Over the same period of time, most of the incidents involved overpayments. Despite this, there have been policy changes at the agency to align with the rhetoric. However, the nominee for commissioner under the Trump administration has not yet been confirmed. In the interim, Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner, shared his vision with staff members in a detailed memo. He discussed plans to leverage artificial intelligence in customer service and enhance anti-fraud measures. The agency is also implementing a new procedure that will require beneficiaries to visit an office or create an online account to update bank information, a change that may pose challenges for some elderly recipients according to Social Security employees.
Dudek and the Social Security Administration have already reversed a couple of unpopular decisions following public outcry. They abandoned the idea of discontinuing phone services for filing disability and retirement claims, as reported by The Washington Post. Additionally, Dudek apologized for an order that would have prevented parents in Maine from obtaining Social Security numbers for their newborns at hospitals.
The decision to close a Social Security office in Rep. Mike Lawler’s district has sparked criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Lawler expressed his dissatisfaction, emphasizing the inconvenience for constituents who rely on the office for critical services. Other Republicans are cautioning against significant cuts to Social Security staff, highlighting the current inadequacy of customer service.
While concerns about potential privatization of Social Security persist among employees and politicians, there is uncertainty regarding whether SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has discussed the topic in private meetings with lawmakers. Some Republicans stress the importance of maintaining benefits and improving customer service over drastic workforce reductions. However, employees fear that Musk’s statements on entitlements are misleading and could be a precursor to privatization efforts.
A Social Security employee has reported an increase in wait times for services, urging individuals to promptly submit any changes to their bank information. Concern was expressed for elderly recipients who may struggle with technology and live far from a Social Security office, stating they will be most affected by these changes. The employee warned that delays in processing could hinder people from receiving their benefits, describing the situation as a covert and hostile takeover.
Nancy Altman, president of the advocacy group Social Security Works, has criticized efforts by the Trump administration to slash and restructure the Social Security Administration, potentially endangering benefits. Altman highlighted the risk of internal sabotage leading to disruptions in benefits, potentially paving the way for outsourcing and privatization. She raised concerns about entrusting young individuals with access to seniors’ personal data, emphasizing the vulnerability to data breaches and scams.
Altman also criticized the new requirement for in-person office visits as potentially excluding disabled or immobile seniors from receiving benefits. She cautioned that reducing Social Security Administration staff would result in diminished customer service and longer wait times for benefits. Despite political divisions, there is a collective effort among Democrats to resist attempts to downsize the Social Security Administration.
During a press conference, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the unity among Democrats in protecting Social Security, despite disagreements on other issues. Rep. Janelle Bynum expressed concerns from her constituents regarding Musk’s actions impacting Social Security programs, office closures, and potential benefit reductions. Bynum criticized the billionaire’s influence on essential programs, noting the detrimental effects on millions of Americans.
