Elon Musk’s Federal Role: A Call for Removal Before the Damage is Done
The patience of Americans should be wearing thin. The time to demand Elon Musk’s removal from his unelected position within the federal government is now, before his disruptive and, frankly, dangerous ideas about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid lead to irreversible harm. His recent pronouncements and actions suggest a reckless disregard for the well-being of millions who rely on these critical safety nets.
In a recent interview on Fox Business, Musk, the federally funded billionaire whom Donald Trump appointed to head a newly created, and seemingly superfluous, "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), displayed a concerning level of ignorance about the programs under his potential influence. He stated, in a muddled and confusing manner, that "waste and fraud in entitlement spending… is the big one to eliminate… sort of half-trillion, maybe six or 700 billion a year."
This incoherent statement reveals a dangerous combination of arrogance and incompetence. It is alarming that someone with such limited understanding of the complexities of these vital programs has been placed in a position where he could potentially dismantle them. The "break it first" mentality that Musk seems to be embracing is not only irresponsible but also deeply harmful to the millions of Americans who depend on these services.
While no reasonable person would advocate for tolerating actual waste or fraud within these programs, Musk’s estimates are wildly inflated and completely detached from reality. He throws around figures like "half-trillion" or even "700 billion" dollars in potential savings, figures that are simply not supported by evidence.
As reported by The Associated Press, the inspector general of Social Security estimates improper payments from fiscal years 2015 through 2022 at $71.8 billion. This figure, while still significant, represents less than 1% of benefits paid out during that period. That’s about $10 billion a year, a far cry from Musk’s fantastical $700 billion.
The core issue is that Musk doesn’t seem to know what he’s talking about. His past statements further demonstrate his animosity towards Social Security, which he has infamously called "the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time." If you contribute to Social Security, if you rely on Social Security checks, or if you benefit from Medicare or Medicaid, the last thing you want is an uninformed billionaire who can’t grasp the realities of budgeting on a fixed income using inflammatory language like "eliminate" or "Ponzi scheme" in relation to your federal programs.
Beyond the inaccurate estimates and inflammatory rhetoric, the actual actions taken by Musk’s DOGE operation have been marked by incompetence and a lack of foresight. The cuts and firings that have occurred have been poorly executed, resulting in the loss of essential personnel and a chaotic work environment. They’ve fired people only to realize their mistake and rehire them, revealing a lack of understanding of the critical functions these individuals performed. The claimed savings have also been wildly exaggerated, suggesting a deliberate attempt to mislead the public about the effectiveness of their efforts.
Adding to the concern is the team’s aggressive pursuit of access to sensitive government data. This raises serious questions about privacy and the potential for misuse of this information. The public has a right to know what data is being accessed, how it is being used, and what safeguards are in place to protect against breaches and abuses.
Furthermore, Musk’s behavior and statements have often been offensive and divisive. His recent comments on Fox Business are a prime example. He repeated the dangerous and debunked white-nationalist conspiracy theory that federal programs like Social Security 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."
This "Democrats are importing voters" line is nothing more than conspiratorial garbage. The notion that undocumented immigrants are collecting Social Security is a long-ago debunked claim. The purpose of Musk’s comment is to demonize immigrants and perpetuate the insidious "great replacement theory," a dangerous ideology that has fueled violence and hatred.
His recent attack on Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona further demonstrates his lack of judgment and respect. After Senator Kelly posted a photo of his visit to Ukraine, Musk labeled him a "traitor" on social media. This is an outrageous accusation against a decorated U.S. Navy pilot who flew 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm and a former NASA astronaut.
Musk, a South African-born billionaire who routinely promotes conspiracy theories on his social media platform, is in no position to question the patriotism or integrity of a dedicated public servant like Senator Kelly.
The evidence is clear: Elon Musk is not qualified to hold a position of influence within the federal government. His ignorance of key policy issues, his reckless disregard for the well-being of vulnerable populations, his propagation of conspiracy theories, and his overall lack of judgment make him a liability to the country.
If you value the social safety net that you have worked for, if you believe in responsible governance, and if you reject bigotry and conspiracy theories, then you should join the growing chorus of Americans demanding that Elon Musk be stripped of the power he was never elected to wield. The time to act is now, before he does irreparable damage to the programs that millions of Americans depend on. His removal is essential to protecting the future of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and to restoring trust in the integrity of our government.
