Elon Musk Faces Congressional Criticism Over Social Security Privatization Claims

House Democrats challenge Musk's absence at hearings and dispute his claims of widespread fraud in entitlement programs.

Elon Musk, as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has claimed that $500-700 billion in fraud and waste exists in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, though experts dispute the feasibility of these figures.
House Democrats, including Rep. John Larson, criticized Musk's absence from a congressional hearing, accusing him of avoiding accountability and seeking to privatize Social Security.
Independent analyses, including from the Government Accountability Office, suggest improper payments across these programs total far less than Musk's estimates, undermining his claims.
Musk and the Trump administration have faced backlash for proposing cuts and reforms to entitlement programs, with critics warning these changes could harm beneficiaries and reduce access to care.
Supporters of Musk argue he is targeting inefficiencies, but opponents highlight the lack of concrete evidence for his fraud claims and the potential risks of privatization.