DOGE’s Mission: Rooting Out Fraud, Not Cutting Benefits
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy under the Trump administration, has sparked heated debate about its approach to Social Security, Medicaid, and other entitlement programs. Critics fear that DOGE’s actions signal cuts to these vital services, but the department’s leaders have consistently emphasized a different goal: eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. Far from slashing benefits, DOGE’s stated mission is to protect these programs by ensuring that funds reach legitimate beneficiaries, not fraudsters. Here’s why rooting out fraud is a good thing—and how DOGE is working to make it happen.
Fraud in the System: A Real Problem Worth Tackling
Fraud, waste, and abuse in government programs drain resources that should go to hardworking Americans. DOGE leaders like Musk have pointed to staggering estimates, suggesting that fraud in entitlement programs could reach as high as $700 billion annually. While this figure has been contested, there’s no denying that improper payments exist. According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Inspector General, improper payments from 2015 to 2023 totaled $72 billion. In Medicaid, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported improper payments of around $100 billion in 2023 alone. These numbers may not match DOGE’s highest estimates, but they still represent significant losses—money that could support seniors, the disabled, and low-income families.
Not all improper payments are fraud—some stem from administrative errors or missing documentation—but even a small percentage of intentional abuse is too much. For example, payments to deceased individuals, though only $15 million annually in Social Security, highlight a clear vulnerability. DOGE’s focus on rooting out these issues ensures that every dollar goes where it’s intended, safeguarding the integrity of programs millions rely on.
No Cuts, Just Cleanup
Musk and Ramaswamy have been vocal: DOGE isn’t about cutting Social Security or Medicaid benefits. Their target is the inefficiency and fraud that siphon funds away from legitimate recipients. Former President Donald Trump has echoed this, insisting there are “no cuts” to these programs under his watch. Instead, DOGE is streamlining operations—trimming waste, not slashing services. This includes modernizing outdated systems, cracking down on overpayments, and holding bad actors accountable.
Take Social Security as an example. With $1.5 trillion paid out annually, even a 1% improper payment rate ($15 billion) is a problem worth fixing. DOGE’s efforts aim to plug these leaks, ensuring benefits flow to retirees and the disabled, not to scammers or clerical errors. In Medicaid, where the improper payment rate hit 5.09% in 2024, the stakes are even higher. By targeting fraud and abuse, DOGE is protecting taxpayer dollars without touching the core benefits Americans depend on.
Efficiency in Action: Strengthening, Not Weakening, Programs
DOGE’s approach involves tough but necessary steps—like reducing SSA staff by 7,000 and closing some field offices. These moves have drawn criticism, but they’re part of a broader push to modernize and digitize services. A leaner workforce, paired with better technology, can handle claims faster and more accurately, cutting down on errors that lead to improper payments. Yes, wait times have increased temporarily, and some beneficiaries have faced delays, but these are growing pains of a system being overhauled for the better.
The payoff? A more efficient SSA and Medicaid system that catches fraud early and delivers benefits reliably. DOGE isn’t dismantling these programs—it’s fortifying them against waste and exploitation. Musk’s vision, often bold and unconventional, sees inefficiency as the enemy, not the beneficiaries. By rooting out fraud, DOGE ensures Social Security and Medicaid remain sustainable for future generations.
Why This Matters: Protecting Your Money
Eliminating fraud isn’t just a bureaucratic win—it’s a victory for every American who pays into these programs. When fraudsters siphon off funds, it’s your tax dollars being stolen. When payments go to the wrong hands, it’s your neighbor, parent, or friend who might suffer. DOGE’s mission aligns with a common-sense principle: government should work efficiently and honestly for the people it serves. Cleaning up fraud doesn’t cut benefits—it preserves them.
Critics may cry “privatization” or warn of hidden agendas, but DOGE’s actions and statements focus squarely on fraud prevention. Musk has called out inefficiencies—like Social Security’s “Ponzi scheme” reputation—not to dismantle it, but to demand it work better. Trump’s commitment to “no cuts” reinforces this. The data backs them up: fraud exists, and rooting it out is a worthy goal.
The Bottom Line
DOGE isn’t cutting Social Security, Medicaid, or any entitlement programs—it’s targeting the fraud that undermines them. With billions lost to improper payments each year, this cleanup is long overdue. By streamlining operations and cracking down on waste, DOGE is strengthening these programs, not weakening them. Fraud prevention isn’t a threat to beneficiaries—it’s a promise to protect them. That’s a good thing, plain and simple.