When Democrats exploded Elon Musk's government efficiency (DOGE) efforts as a “constitutional crisis,” Fox News Digital has seen many departments cut, including qualifications, and the fat to be cut is ripe I spoke to a government spending expert who explained this.
James Agresti, president of the nonprofit research institute Just Facts, spoke to Fox News Digital about some of the opportunities to cut eligibility, pointing to inappropriate payments worth $2 billion in 2022. Payment of 89,947 retired workers in 2023.
“It's difficult to wrap your head around that kind of thing,” Agresty said. “There's a lot of fat in Social Security because there are almost all qualification programs.”
The SSA sent disability benefits for approximately 7,000 federal employees in 2008, still paying wages from federal jobs. Reports for 2010 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Dem of the family over Musk's doge crackdown during a fiery interview: “I'm angry.”
Fox News Digital spoke to Just Facts President James Agresti about President Elon Musk, Right and Donald Trump's Doge efforts. (Getty/Fox)
GAO estimated that around 1,500 of these individuals “may have received inappropriate benefits” as wages exceeded the maximum income threshold. A GAO investigation found that over 71,000 “stimulus checks” were sent to the dead by the Obama administration.
President Donald Trump and Musk have expressed concerns about illegal immigrants with Social Security numbers that contribute to SSA fraud.
“In 2010, the main social security act conducted a study on the issue, finding that there are 800,000 non-citizens who have Social Security numbers and work under them. By submitting a Social Security Certificate to the Social Security Agency, you will be able to have a Social Security number,” Agresty said.
The Doge subcommittee will hold its first hearing to condemn the 36t of national debt, as House Republicans have declared “war on waste.”
Elon Musk will be holding an event in Washington in DC on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump. (AP image)
Agresti explained that there is a similar problem with the Internal Revenue Service, which states that “we provide child tax credits for illegal immigrant children and generally accept what is thrown at them.”
“A few years ago there was a survey where the same birth certificate was issued. It was given to them in many cases to get these child tax credits and they just gave them,” Agresty said. In fact, the order from management only accomplished it, and got it from the desk. Don't worry about investigating whether it's legal. This is frankly theft. ”
“It's stealing from US taxpayers, it's stealing from the government, and certain people have come to tolerate it, and frankly, I think it's ridiculous. We will never tolerate this in our normal lives, 20% of our income.”
Agresti told Fox News Digital that Social Security is “in fact one of the better things” when compared to other qualifications like Medicare and Medicaid. “5, 10, 15%, 20% in Children's Health Insurance Program. ”
Speaking about the IRS, Agresti said it became essentially a “welfare program.” “He said there are “very high” inappropriate payments, particularly with the income tax credits that are issued reimbursable tax credits.
Democrats are railing in voices for Trump and Musk's doge's efforts, especially when it comes to the rights program, claiming the administration is trying to rule out legitimate earned benefits owed to taxpayers.
Agresti told Fox News Digital that “we can't go far from the truth,” and when it comes to Social Security, Doge told Fox News Digital that “there is a social security check and we are trying to make sure we don't get lost in fraud.”
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Doge protesters held their sign Tuesday in Parkersburg, West Virginia. (Fox News Digital)
“I think we're seeing Democrats demonizing one big obstacle, Trump and Musk, who are following it and making a sincere effort to solve this kind of problem, and why I don't know. “Agresty said, “I haven't seen the motivation for that. But it's ridiculous that they misunderstand what they're doing.”
“The federal government is a giant and has many tentacles. Many employees and the government are notorious for their extremely low accountability to employees. That was always the case. ”
