Elon Musk Calls Federal Spending On Social Security, Benefit Programs ‘The Big One’ To Cut | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk pushed debunked theories about Social Security on Monday whereas describing federal profit applications as rife with fraud, suggesting they are going to be a major goal in his campaign to cut back authorities spending.

The billionaire entrepreneur, who’s advising President Donald Trump, recommended that $500 billion to $700 billion in waste wanted to be lower.

“Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” Musk informed the Fox Business Network. “That’s the big one to eliminate.”

The feedback on the favored program and different advantages offered to Americans may rattle politicians on either side of the aisle as Musk works to downsize the federal authorities, particularly as he already faces blowback for his chainsaw-wielding strategy to shedding employees and slashing applications.

Musk’s estimate for the extent of fraud in entitlements far outpaces figures from watchdogs like Social Security’s inspector basic, who beforehand mentioned there was $71.8 billion in improper funds from fiscal years 2015 by 2022. That’s lower than 1% of advantages paid out throughout that point interval.

Musk additionally mentioned there have been “20 million people who are definitely dead marked as alive in the Social Security database.” However, the chief of the company has rejected claims about widespread funds to lifeless individuals.

“These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits,” mentioned Lee Dudek, Social Security’s appearing commissioner.

The interview with Fox Business was a reminder of Musk’s deep skepticism and even hostility towards this system, which offers month-to-month advantages to retirees and a few youngsters. Trump has promised to defend Social Security from cuts, however Musk has described it as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” and the administration is shutting down among the company’s workplaces.

Musk mentioned Monday that federal entitlements 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.” The allegation echoed the “great replacement” idea, which claims that politicians try to increase their energy by reshaping the nation’s racial demographics.

The interview was carried out within the White House complicated by Larry Kudlow, who served as an financial adviser to Trump throughout his first time period. During the dialog, Musk appeared to acknowledge the bizarre nature of his function within the administration.

“Frankly, I can’t believe I’m here doing this,” Musk mentioned. “It’s kind of bizarre.”

Musk is the world’s richest individual and nonetheless runs his personal enterprises as he advises the president on methods to overtake the federal authorities.

He additionally thanked Trump for his confidence, saying, “Without the president’s support, we couldn’t make any progress here.”

Trump has publicly backed Musk and given him extraordinary affect over the federal authorities. However, the Republican president has indicated a shift in strategy, saying that Musk’s group would use a “scalpel” reasonably than a “hatchet.”

Musk has not typically spoken publicly since becoming a member of the administration, preferring as an alternative to current a stream of consciousness on X, his social media platform. On Monday, he accused Democrats of attacking Tesla dealerships; bragged about X being “the top source for news on Earth;” and accused Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a former fighter pilot and astronaut, of being a traitor for visiting Ukraine over the weekend.

Musk’s sitdown with Kudlow was his third interview since becoming a member of Trump’s administration, and he hasn’t strayed from his ideological secure house. He beforehand did a joint interview with the president and Sean Hannity of Fox News, and he sat down with Joe Rogan, a podcaster who endorsed Trump final yr.

Republicans have spent a long time attempting to cut back the dimensions and scope of the federal authorities, and lots of have cheered Musk’s work.

“The American people are sick of the swamp. They’re sick of waste, fraud and abuse,” mentioned Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, who leads the National Republican Congressional Committee. “For the first time ever, we finally have the tools to affect it. So I think the voters are going to reward us.”

But there are indicators of backlash and skepticism. Some Republicans have even boasted of blocking price range cuts.

Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole issued a press release saying three federal workplaces in his state — the National Weather Center in Norman, the Social Security Administration Office in Lawton and the Indian Health Services Office in Oklahoma City — would keep open.

“I am thrilled to announce that common sense has prevailed,” he mentioned. Cole added that “all three of these places provide vital and valuable services to Oklahomans and I am so proud to have advocated for them.”

About half of Americans mentioned it’s “a bad thing” that Trump has given Musk a distinguished function in his administration, in response to a mid-February CNN/SSRS ballot. Only a 3rd noticed it as “a good thing.”

Another mid-February survey by The Washington Post and Ipsos discovered that Americans had been divided on whether or not Musk is especially chopping wasteful spending or needed applications, with a few third falling into every camp. Another quarter mentioned they weren’t positive.