Posted on 03/23/2025 10:08:20 AM PDT by John Semmens
Based on its study of data from fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that the federal government loses between $230 billion and $520 billion annually to fraud. Fraud is a subset of the larger category of "improper payments." Improper payments are payments that shouldn't have been made, were made in an incorrect amount, or lacked sufficient supporting documentation.
"Even the lower end of the estimate shows a substantial opportunity for reducing the waste of taxpayers' money," Elon Musk observed. "Since the GAO reports to Congress all the members of that legislative body know about this problem. Yet, we see many Democrats adamantly opposed to the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to examine the payments system and recommend methods for reducing this waste. Resistance to reducing waste threatens the long-term viability of the entitlement programs."
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) couldn't refute the magnitude of waste nor the potentially dire consequences to the programs or the country, but questioned "whether it is worth it to even try to deal with the waste. Having this issue in the news creates a significant amount of anxiety among the folks who are dependent on the government giving them the money they need to live. Maybe putting up with the waste is a better option than scaring people to death."
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) claimed "Elon Musk is saying it plainly: Republicans' big goal is to 'eliminate' Social Security and Medicare benefits. Since, at worst, only a third of the Social Security payments made are fraudulent it seems to me that putting up with the theft of the lesser amount is the price the American people would choose over eliminating the program."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed out that "Since President Trump has said numerous times that he will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits, the 'trade-off' Sen. Schumer deems acceptable isn't even an option. DOGE is going to identify the fraud and waste that can be cut so legitimate recipients of Social Security can continue to receive the benefits they've earned. Criminals who have been pilfering the funds will be cut off. I think voters understand the distinction that Sen. Schumer refuses to see."
In related news, Schumer denounced "greedy Americans whose attitude is, 'I made my money all by myself. How dare your government take my money from me?' Well, we dare because these selfish individuals have more than they need. Those with the talent and ambition to make their own living have a moral obligation to share their good fortune with those who lack the talent and ambition to support themselves. Democrats understand this and have been working since FDR was president to ensure that the greedy fulfill this obligation."
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