Summary

Elon Musk announced plans to cut federal entitlement spending, claiming without evidence $500-700 billion in annual “waste and fraud” from programs like Medicare and Social Security.

Analysts dispute this figure: “There is not $500 to $700 billion of waste in benefit programs every single year ― that number is absurdly large.”

True inefficiencies lie in Medicare Advantage. Insurers overcharge the government by $80 billion annually, with government auditors finding it costs 20% more than traditional Medicare.

However, the Trump-Musk administration’s approach of closing regional HHS legal offices and appointing TV doctor Mehmet Oz to oversee Medicare suggests they may target entitlements themselves rather than merely addressing inefficiencies.

  • MyOpinion@lemm.ee
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    8 hours ago

    This was always the plan. From the day these programs were put in place Republiscum have been trying to destroy them.

    • pdxfed@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      Post office, national parks, anything that can be sold and privatized to the highest bidder.