- DOGE to investigate the SEC fraud, uncovering errors in Social Security records.
- Musk highlighted that discrepancies are evident in the SSA database owing to the census data.
- The White House clarified that Musk is only a senior advisor and cannot make own decisions.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has started a public audit of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), seeking information about potential fraud, waste, and abuse. This investigation coincides with broader concerns about data accuracy in federal systems, particularly the Social Security Administration’s records.
The investigation gained traction after Elon Musk, serving as a senior advisor to President Trump, highlighted apparent discrepancies in Social Security data. According to recent findings, the SSA database lists approximately 21 million people aged 100 or older as alive in the United States, contrasting sharply with the 2020 Census data showing only 80,000 Americans aged 85 and above.
More anomalies came up from the Social Security records, including 1,041 individuals supposedly living beyond age 220, with one person listed at 360 years old. These entries conflict with verified longevity records, as the world’s oldest documented person, is currently 116 years old and resides in Brazil.
Musk addressed these inconsistencies directly on social media: “Having tens of millions of people marked in Social Security as ‘ALIVE’ when they are definitely dead is a HUGE problem.” He emphasized the severity by noting that some listed individuals would predate the establishment of the United States.
Related: https://cryptotale.org/elon-musk-proposes-shifting-u-s-treasury-to-blockchain/
The scope of potential improper payments extends beyond Social Security. The Medicare and Medicaid programs reported approximately $100 billion in improper payments during fiscal year 2023. Combined with Social Security issues, the total annual improper payments could reach $150 billion.
However, the White House has clarified Musk’s role in these investigations through a court filing. Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration, stated that while Musk serves as a senior advisor to the President, he holds no decision-making authority within DOGE or other government agencies. The filing specifies that Musk “has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself.”
The DOGE investigation is a broader push for accountability in federal agencies under the Trump administration. The department has opened channels for public input, requesting information through its official social media accounts about potential irregularities within the SEC’s operations.
