Senate Republicans are asking Elon Musk to stop talking about Social Security and for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to leave it alone.
Musk recently called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and suggested cutting up to 12 percent of the Social Security Administration’s workforce. This has caused concern among GOP lawmakers, who warn that Social Security reform is politically dangerous. They believe that any changes to it could hurt any party that tries to make them.
Republicans are particularly worried that cutting staff and closing field offices will frustrate people who depend on Social Security. They fear it will become harder and more time-consuming for Americans to get help with their benefit claims.
“It doesn’t help the president when someone like Musk, who clearly isn’t worried about Social Security benefits, is leading efforts to shrink the Social Security Administration,” one unnamed senator said. “It worries Americans who depend on Social Security to get by.” The senator also criticized Musk’s claim that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme,” saying it only adds to the anxiety people feel about their benefits.
Musk made the “Ponzi scheme” comment during a long interview with Joe Rogan earlier this month. He also claimed without evidence that illegal immigrants are fraudulently collecting Social Security and Medicare benefits. Musk accused Democrats of using these “entitlements” to attract voters, specifically claiming that it helps them win elections in places like California.
Several Republican senators have said Musk should stop making statements about Social Security.
“It’s not helpful,” an exasperated Republican said. “It plays right into the Democrats’ hands, and they want to talk about cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We don’t want to talk about that.” This senator added that it’s fine to talk about fighting fraud but said questioning the whole Social Security system could cause problems.
Earlier this month, Musk suggested that $500 billion to $700 billion in waste could be cut from federal entitlement programs, including Social Security.
Ross K. Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University, said Musk’s comments are becoming a political problem for Republicans. “Going after Social Security is like poking a stick into a hornet’s nest,” he said. “It’s ironic for a person so wealthy to target a program that helps regular people.”
Musk’s comments have also given Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) something to criticize Republicans over. Last week, Schumer accused Republicans of wanting to cut Social Security, citing Musk’s statements. “Elon Musk is saying it plainly: Republicans’ big goal is to ‘eliminate’ Social Security and Medicare benefits,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
The White House also responded to the controversy, releasing a statement saying, “The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.”
The debate over Social Security got even more heated this week when Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, announced that millions of recipients and applicants will now have to visit field offices in person instead of handling issues over the phone. In addition, dozens of field offices across the country are scheduled to close as part of the DOGE’s plan to shrink the federal government.
Another anonymous Republican senator warned that cutting Social Security staff and offices could hurt beneficiaries, especially seniors. “Social Security is not going away. It’s part of our society,” the senator said. “Elon Musk is speaking for himself, not for the people in Congress who are working on Social Security’s future.”
This senator also admitted that while Musk isn’t likely to stop talking about Social Security, there are concerns about his approach. The lawmaker said, “What needs to happen is a real analysis of what the department is trying to do. Cutting people just to cut them isn’t the right way. Sometimes it means more workers, and sometimes fewer.”
Sen. Murkowski (R-Alaska) pointed out that the Social Security Administration faces unique challenges in Alaska, where there is only one field office for the whole state. “We’ve fought hard to keep that office open,” she said. “Now people can’t just walk in. They have to wait for an appointment, and the wait time is discouraging.”
Murkowski added that reducing the number of workers in Social Security offices would not go over well with her constituents. “It’s been really hard. If we reduce the number of people answering calls, people are going to be upset,” she said.
