Musk alleges biggest fraud in US history
The US Social Security Administration (SSA) has come under fresh scrutiny by Elon Musk, the billionaire head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The X and SpaceX CEO has accused the agency of massive fraud.
Earlier this month, Musk claimed that a cursory review of Social Security records by his department had found out that the safety net program is paying benefits to 150-year-olds. The businessman noted that many entries listed for Social Security recipients had no identifying information.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the US-based billionaire noted that “there are far more ‘eligible’ social security numbers than there are citizens in the USA.” Musk also shared a post by an X user suggesting that social security payment is currently received by 394,943,364 people and claiming that total population of the US amounts to 334 million.
“This might be the biggest fraud in history,” Musk concluded.
Musk claimed that thousands of individuals—some reportedly over 150 years old—are still listed as alive in the SSA’s records.
Yes, there are FAR more “eligible” social security numbers than there are citizens in the USA. This might be the biggest fraud in history.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025
“According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to false!” Musk wrote.
“Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security,” he added, referencing the popular vampire-themed “Twilight” series.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was established by Trump to streamline federal operations and cut $2 trillion from federal spending by 2026. Musk has acknowledged that up to $1 trillion in cuts could be feasible.
According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025
Since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the newly-launched body, which despite its name is not a permanent federal executive department, has implemented significant reductions, including the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). DOGE has also introduced severe restrictions for National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants as part of a broader strategy to boost government efficiency.
