In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, tech billionaire Elon Musk claimed that his cuts to the Social Security Administration will mean more money in recipients' pockets. However, one U.S. Senator didn't buy it.
"The government is not efficient, and there is a lot of waste and fraud, so we feel confident that a 15 percent reduction can be done without affecting any of the critical government services," Musk insisted.
While Trump has repeatedly promised that he was “not touching” Social Security and Medicare, NBC News reported, what is happening is that staffing cuts are being made to those who answer the phones and help those with questions.
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Reports are saying services will be affected.
"A flood of cuts led by Elon Musk has sent the agency into chaos as a new commissioner prepares to take charge," reported the Washington Post earlier this week.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) told MSNBC on Friday that he doesn't buy Musk's explanation.
"What I heard from that session was just lie after lie," Van Hollen said of Musk's statements. "It was like one giant spin room. The reality is that Social Security benefits are set by law, not by Elon Musk. And the cuts that they are making at the Social Security Administration are going to make it harder for people to access their benefits."
When he came into office, President Donald Trump created the "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" by executive order. That initiative has been behind the upheaval and dismantling of government agencies. Websites, grants, programs, and employees have been cut or frozen under the promise that Trump will save taxpayers trillions.
"We've already heard that they terminated, you know, the phone lines [staff], so people cannot call in," continued Van Hollen. "They say, go to your regional offices. They're cutting the regional offices. And if you go to the regional offices, they're talking about cutting 7000 people off the Social Security Administration. So, it will become much harder for people to access the benefits there."
See his comments below or at the link here.