A new government initiative is stirring up emotions and sparking important conversations, as many people are understandably concerned about how it may impact their lives and the lives of millions of Americans.

While officials insist these changes are necessary to improve efficiency, critics warn of potential consequences that could ripple far beyond what was originally intended.

With so much at stake, people are asking: Will this affect my future?

Let’s take a moment to understand the situation more deeply, considering the perspectives from both sides and recognizing the concerns at play.

DOGE’s website, known as the "wall of receipts," claims that the department has saved over $232 million from Social Security Administration-related expenses.

The largest portion—approximately $231 million—comes from cuts to IT and telecom services, including the cancellation of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Gender X Marker project.

Gender X denotes a gender identity that is either not specified or is distinct from male or female, and it is indicated as such on US passports and birth certificates.

A spokesperson from the SSA confirmed the cancellation, stating, “The task order referenced on the DOGE receipt website includes numerous IT development efforts, one of which was Social Security's former Gender X Marker project... We can confirm that the Gender X Marker project was canceled in January 2025, resulting in an estimated $560,000 cost avoidance.”

Additional reductions include the following: DOGE reported savings of $109,224 from canceling focus groups that were intended to identify gender-based financial barriers.

Additionally, $34,000 was cut from sustainability consulting services.

The SSA's $14,000 subscriptions to four Politico PRO Plus annual licenses have also been flagged for review, though no savings have been reported from that yet.

Source: The Daily Signal / YouTube​

Elon Musk has made bold claims regarding Social Security fraud, alleging that millions of deceased individuals are still receiving benefits.

He posted a chart on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that 400 million people—including many centenarians—were collecting Social Security.

However, official SSA data and a 2023 audit contradict these claims. In reality, there were only 68.5 million Social Security recipients in 2024.

An audit found that 18.9 million centenarians were still listed in SSA records, but most had not received payments in over 50 years and were likely deceased.

Only 44,000 individuals aged 100+ were still receiving Social Security, with just 13 reported to be 112 years or older.

Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group, weighed in on Musk’s claims, stating, "Are there people collecting Social Security over 100 years of age? The answer is incontrovertibly yes. But not at all to the extent Musk implies. He’s confusing the fact that thousands of Social Security numbers exist for people over 100 with them actually collecting benefits. Two very different things."

DOGE’s budget cuts and Musk’s fraud allegations have ignited debate among government officials, financial analysts, and the public.

While some support the effort to reduce government waste, others warn that these cuts could have unintended consequences.

Supporters argue that eliminating unnecessary spending protects taxpayers and improves efficiency.

Critics, however, worry that reducing SSA funding could result in longer processing times for claims, reduced access to resources for retirees, and future policy adjustments that could affect benefits.

Former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley criticized DOGE’s methods, saying, “These 19-year-old nitwits from DOGE that are violating the law and plucking people's… personal identifying information, they don't know what they're looking at.”

Meanwhile, Musk has defended his actions, stating on X, "I love the people. We just want to fix the waste and fraud that is bankrupting the country. The scrutiny on me is extreme, so it's not like I could 'get away' with something, nor do I have any incentive to do so."

Further updates are expected as DOGE continues its review of SSA spending. The department’s "wall of receipts" will likely provide additional details about future budget changes.

While SSA has not announced direct benefit reductions, concerns remain about potential ripple effects.

Many experts warn that continued spending cuts could lead to longer wait times for SSA services, increased administrative challenges, and possible adjustments to eligibility requirements in the future.

For now, Social Security beneficiaries are advised to stay informed and monitor updates from official sources.

For more major policy decisions that could impact the nation, read here:

• Trump administration shakes up international institutions with surprise decisions—What happens next?
• Is your budget safe? What you need to know about "mandatory spending" cuts

Key Takeaways

• DOGE has identified over $232 million in savings from Social Security-related expenses, primarily through IT and telecom service cuts, including the cancellation of the SSA’s Gender X Marker project.
  
• Elon Musk’s claims about Social Security fraud allege that millions of deceased individuals are still receiving benefits, but official SSA data contradicts these assertions.
  
• Supporters argue that reducing government waste will improve efficiency, while critics warn that cutting SSA funding could lead to longer processing times and limited resources for retirees.
  
• Further updates are expected as DOGE continues its review, with experts cautioning that ongoing budget cuts could impact service efficiency and future Social Security eligibility requirements.

Do you believe these budget cuts will improve efficiency, or are you concerned about how Social Security might change in the coming years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

[nitram]

This article as written is very misleading.

A factual article would point out that millions of our SS money is lost due to fraudulent charges.

Millions are lost to continuing to pay deceased people.

You know it, we know it.

Every year we hear Social Security is running out of money!

You make it sound as though DOJE is taking money away from legitimate recipients when they are trying to do what should have been done every year.

If the audits and the Inspector General were doing their jobs DOJE would have found no problems and Social Security would be better off than it is now.

You should be praising DOJE for finding all the waste, fraud and corruption, instead you make it sound like DOJE is harming Social Security.

Try simply reporting the facts instead of glom and doom maybes.

 

[GrammyD]

It seems to me that if the wealthy paid the same percentage in federal taxes as the average working American, they wouldn't need to make cuts that cost jobs of hard-working people. Instead, they are able to avoid paying taxes on much of their income through various tax shelters, etc. I agree that cutting waste is important, but that's not the only measure that needs to be addressed.

 

[James Borush]

 

[nitram]

It seems to me that if the wealthy paid the same percentage in federal taxes as the average working American, they wouldn't need to make cuts that cost jobs of hard-working people. Instead, they are able to avoid paying taxes on much of their income through various tax shelters, etc. I agree that cutting waste is important, but that's not the only measure that needs to be addressed.

And do we ignore the fraud and corruption? No matter how much more the elite are taxed the corruption and fraud are a major problem.

 

[Shirley S.]

Worried that they don’t have a clue what these kids are saying and doing. If they mess up people’s income they have no clue what seniors will do. You do mess with people’s livelihood.