Elon Musk identifies Social Security as a federal benefit program rife with fraud. He says they will be the first thing he targets when reducing government spending.

A billionaire entrepreneur who advises Donald Trump suggested reducing waste from $500 billion to $700 billion. Musk said in an interview on television that “the majority of federal expenditures are entitlements.” “That’s the one we need to get rid of most. “

The comments could rattle politicians on both sides of the aisle as Musk works to downsize the federal government, especially as he already faces blowback for his chainsaw-wielding approach to laying off workers and slashing programs.

Musk estimates that the amount of fraud in entitlements is higher than the figures provided by the Social Security Inspector General, who previously stated that $71.8 billion was paid out in improper payments during the fiscal years 2015 to 2022. The figure is less than one percent of all benefits paid over this period.

Musk also said there were “20 million people who are dead marked as alive in the Social Security database. The leader of the agency has cast doubt on claims about widespread payments to dead people.”

Lee Dudek, the acting commissioner of social security, said: “These people do not receive benefits.”

Musk called the scheme the “biggest Ponzi ever”, and the administration shut down some Social Security Offices.

Musk said Monday that federal entitlements are “a way for Democrats to attract and maintain illegal immigration by paying people to come and then turning them into voters.” “This allegation is similar to the “great replacement hypothesis,” which states that politicians are trying to increase their political power by changing the demographics of the country.

Musk acknowledged his unique position within the Trump administration in an interview with Larry Kudlow at the White House. Kudlow served as Trump’s first economic adviser.

Musk said, “I still can’t believe that I am doing this. It’s a little bizarre. “

Musk, the richest person in the world, still manages his private business. He advises Obama on how to revamp the federal government. He thanked Trump for his confidence again and said, “Without your help, we couldn’t make any progress on this issue.”

Trump publicly backed Musk and gave him extraordinary powers over the federal government. However, Trump’s Republican counterpart has indicated a shift in strategy by stating that Musk’s staff will use a scalpel rather than a hatchet.

Musk has not been a frequent public speaker since joining the administration. Musk prefers to express his views on X, a social media platform. Musk claims that Democrats attacked Tesla dealers on Monday. Musk bragged about X being “the top source of news on Earth”. He also accused Mark Kelly, a former fighter pilot and astronaut who visited Ukraine over the weekend, of lying.

Musk’s interview is his third with Kudlow since joining Trump’s Administration. Musk hasn’t deviated from his ideological views. He previously interviewed Joe Rogan, an influential podcaster who supported Trump last year.

Many Republicans have praised Musk’s efforts; they have spent decades trying to shrink the federal budget.

The American public is tired of the swamp. “I believe voters will reward us. “

There is a backlash and skepticism. Republicans have even bragged about their ability to block budget cuts.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., issued a statement saying three federal offices in his state — the National Weather Center in Norman, the Social Security Administration Office in Lawton, and the Indian Health Services Office in Oklahoma City — would stay open.

He said, “I am thrilled to announce that common sense has won.”

Cole stated, “All these places provide vital and valuable services to Oklahomans, and I am proud to be a fighter for them.”

In a CNN/SSRS poll conducted in mid-February, about half of Americans said it was “bad” that Trump had given Musk a prominent role in his administration.

The Washington Post & Ipsos conducted a poll in mid-February that revealed Americans were divided on whether Musk was cutting wasteful programs or unnecessary spending. Around a third of Americans were in either camp, while a quarter said they weren’t certain.