- Elon Musk and DOGE uncovered 12.3 million fraudulent Social Security entries, including individuals falsely listed as over 120 years old, saving taxpayers $170 billion.
- The Social Security Administration’s outdated systems allowed millions of discrepancies, including 6.5 million "zombie" recipients whose deaths were never recorded.
- DOGE revealed 2.1 million non-citizens received Social Security numbers in 2024 alone, raising concerns about benefit misuse and policy failures.
- Musk’s investigation exposed systemic fraud risks, with critics warning of identity theft, illegal voting, and national security vulnerabilities.
- Despite progress, unresolved cases suggest deeper corruption, demanding further reform to restore public trust in government systems.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has confirmed the removal of 12.3 million individuals falsely listed as 120 years or older from Social Security rolls in a cleanup effort that has saved taxpayers a staggering $170 billion. This bombshell discovery, spearheaded by DOGE figurehead Elon Musk, highlights the alarming inefficiencies and potential fraud embedded in America’s entitlement systems, raising urgent questions about accountability and the misuse of public funds.
The discrepancies came to light earlier this year when Musk publicly flagged millions of Social Security numbers tied to impossible ages, including one individual recorded as between 360 and 369 years old. By March, DOGE reported that 3.2 million entries had been corrected, with the number skyrocketing to 11 million by April and finally reaching 12.3 million as of last week. Despite this progress, DOGE warns that "complex cases remain, such as individuals with 2+ different birth dates on file," which will require further investigation.
A legacy of bureaucratic incompetence
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has long relied on outdated, paper-based record-keeping systems. This archaic infrastructure allowed millions of discrepancies to fester, including 6.5 million individuals over 112 whose death records were never updated, as revealed in a 2015 review. While the SSA claims benefits weren’t actively paid to these "zombie" recipients, the lack of accurate data opens the door to fraudulent claims, identity theft, and systemic waste.
Musk’s February exposé laid bare the absurdity of the system, declaring, "There are FAR more ‘eligible’ social security numbers than there are citizens in the USA. This might be the biggest fraud in history." His scrutiny forced the SSA into damage control, with Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek admitting the records lacked death dates but insisting these individuals were "not necessarily receiving benefits." Yet critics argue the mere existence of such flawed data undermines public trust and enables exploitation.
Non-citizens and taxpayer abuse
Equally alarming is DOGE’s finding that 2.1 million non-citizens were issued Social Security numbers in 2024 alone. Anthony Gracias, CEO of Valor Equity Partners and a Musk collaborator, traced this flood of registrations to policies under the previous administration, which allowed migrants to enter the U.S. and immediately access benefits. This revelation fuels concerns about unsustainable entitlement expansion and the deliberate draining of resources meant for American citizens.
The SSA’s incompetence isn’t just a fiscal disaster; it’s a national security risk. Weakened identity verification systems make Americans vulnerable to fraudulent claims, illegal voting, and even terrorism financing. The fact that millions of "ghost" beneficiaries lingered in the system for decades underscores the urgent need for reform.
While the SSA scrambles to justify its failures, DOGE's relentless oversight has proven indispensable. The $170 billion in savings achieved through this cleanup, alongside other efficiency initiatives, demonstrates how dismantling bureaucratic bloat can protect hardworking Americans. Musk’s team has done what career politicians refused to do: hold government accountable.
Yet the fight isn’t over. The remaining "complex cases" suggest deeper rot, including potential identity theft rings or deliberate obfuscation by bad actors. Every unresolved record represents taxpayer dollars at risk and a betrayal of the public trust.
The DOGE-led cleanup is a watershed moment, exposing how decades of negligence have turned Social Security synonymous with waste and fraud. While the SSA downplays the scandal, the numbers don’t lie: 12.3 million phantom beneficiaries, 2.1 million non-citizen recipients, and $170 billion recovered paint a damning picture.
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