It’s a crisp Wednesday morning on March 5, 2025, and Elon Musk—yes, that Elon Musk—is strolling out of the Capitol in Washington after a sit-down with Senate Republicans. The guy’s been everywhere lately, from launching rockets with SpaceX to advising President Donald Trump. And now? He’s got his sights set on the federal government’s wallet. Specifically, the big, messy pile of cash we call “entitlements.”
Musk Drops a Bombshell on Federal Spending
Musk didn’t mince words this week during a chat with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow. “Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” he said, tossing out numbers like “half a trillion, maybe six, 700 billion” as the chunk of money that could be slashed. He wasn’t vague about where he’s pointing the finger either—Social Security, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and other programs got called out by name. His argument? There’s waste, fraud, and abuse running rampant, and it’s time to clean house.
Critics Sound the Alarm, Trump’s Team Fires Back
Cue the alarm bells. Critics were quick to jump on Musk’s words, warning that this could spell trouble for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—programs millions of Americans rely on. But Trump’s team wasn’t having it. They fired back on XPost Tuesday morning, calling out “lying hacks” and insisting Musk was only talking about trimming the fat—think $500 billion-plus in annual waste, not gutting benefits.
Still, Musk didn’t exactly ease anyone’s nerves. He went on a bit of a rant, questioning why “20 million definitely dead” people are still listed as alive in Social Security’s database (a wild claim, by the way) and how kids under 11 somehow scored hundreds of millions in SBA loans. “Why are we paying for fake or stolen Social Security numbers?” he asked, painting a picture of a system so broken it’s practically begging for a fix.
Trump Echoes Musk—But the Numbers Don’t Add Up
Trump’s been singing a similar tune. Just last week, he told Congress that 4.7 million people over 100 are still in the Social Security system, with “money being paid to many of them.” Sound familiar? It’s bold, it’s dramatic—and it’s not entirely true. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says the real number of people 99 and older getting benefits as of December 2024 is closer to 89,000. Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek tried to clear the air back in February, explaining that some records just don’t have death dates tied to them. “These individuals aren’t necessarily getting checks,” he said. But good luck convincing Musk or Trump of that.
Republicans Promise No Cuts—Or Do They?
Here’s where it gets tricky. Top Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson have been swearing up and down that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are untouchable. “The president’s said it over and over: ‘We’re not touching those,’” Johnson told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins last month. “But we are going to root out fraud, waste, and abuse.” It’s a tightrope walk—promising no cuts while Musk’s out there waving a red flag at the very same programs.
And the SSA itself? It’s already feeling the heat. Last month, the agency announced plans to axe about 7,000 jobs 12% of its workforce—calling it a “bloated” mess that needs streamlining. It’s all part of Trump’s bigger push to shrink the federal government, and Musk seems to be the loudest cheerleader in the room.
So, What’s the Real Story Here?
So, what’s the takeaway? On one hand, Musk’s got a point—nobody likes fraud or waste. If there’s money leaking out to fake Social Security numbers or nonexistent businesses, that’s a problem worth fixing. But on the other hand, his rhetoric’s got people nervous. When you start throwing around words like “entitlements” and “half a trillion,” it’s hard not to wonder if the safety net’s about to get a little shakier.
For now, it’s a war of words—Musk and Trump versus the data, the critics, and a whole lot of worried Americans. One thing’s for sure: this isn’t the last we’ll hear about it. What do you think—smart cleanup or risky overreach? Let’s talk about it.