By Gill Bikram Singh 
Elon Musk has alleged that the Social Security Department in the United States is making payments to people who have already died, allowing their families to receive unnecessary benefits. He also claimed that pensions add an extra burden on the government.
Focus on Government Spending Cuts
Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is reportedly aiming to cut $500 to $700 billion in government spending. He emphasized that a significant portion of wasteful expenditure comes from unnecessary entitlements, stating that many people are receiving payments without justification.
Donald Trump has also taken steps to reduce government expenses by cutting the number of employees. During his tenure, Trump shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and later announced plans to close the Department of Education. Musk echoed these actions, arguing that many people are benefiting without legitimate reasons. According to the Social Security Inspector General’s data, between 2015 and 2022, $71.8 billion was paid without proper justification.
Disputed Claims About Payments to the Deceased
Musk further claimed that approximately 20 million people who are deceased still exist in the Social Security database. However, Social Security’s Executive Commissioner, Lee Dudek, denied these allegations, stating that families of deceased individuals are not receiving any benefits.
Musk has openly objected to the benefits provided to retired individuals. In contrast, Donald Trump has assured that the Social Security Department will not be affected by these cost-cutting measures.
Accusations Against Political Manipulation
Musk described the current Social Security system as the “biggest Ponzi scheme” and suggested that the administration is considering shutting down various government agency offices. He also accused the Democratic Party of using entitlements and payments to attract illegal immigrants and convert them into loyal voters. According to Musk, politicians are attempting to reshape the racial demographics to strengthen their vote bank.