As Elon Musk prepares to step into an advisory role under President-elect Donald Trump, his stance on Social Security has become a subject of intense public debate. Musk has been appointed to co-head the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new advisory body tasked with streamlining costs and cutting regulations.
The appointment places Musk at the center of conversations about potential changes to federal spending – with Social Security, the nation’s largest entitlement program, taking center stage.
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While Musk has not explicitly called for cuts or reforms to Social Security, his recent online activity has fueled speculation.
His decision to reshare a 24-post thread authored by Utah Senator Mike Lee on X has sparked outrage from Social Security advocates and raised questions about his role in shaping the future of the program.
Musk’s post reignites debate on Social Security reform
The controversy began when Musk reposted Lee‘s thread, which argued that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme that’s running out of new investors” and described it as “government dependency at its worst.”
Lee‘s thread criticized the system for failing to provide Americans with adequate returns on their “investment” and called for a shift toward personal investment accounts that would offer higher returns than the current system.
Musk‘s response, a simple “Interesting thread,” might seem innocuous, but it carried significant weight. The post received over 36 million views and drew more than 5,500 responses, many of them critical.
By amplifying Lee‘s viewpoint, Musk signaled that he was at least open to considering reform ideas, a stance that immediately alarmed Social Security advocates.
What Role Will DOGE Play in Social Security Policy?
While DOGE – the Department for Government Efficiency – will have influence over federal spending reviews, its power is limited to advisory roles.
Neither Musk nor his co-head, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, can directly alter Social Security policy. However, they will have the president’s ear, and their recommendations could influence Trump’s executive actions and broader Republican policy initiatives.
According to Ramaswamy, DOGE will focus on cutting waste and fraud within major entitlement programs, including Social Security and Medicare. He downplayed the likelihood of sweeping benefit cuts, calling Social Security reform a “policy decision that belongs to the voters” and their representatives in Congress.
Could Musk push for privatization?
While Musk has not explicitly endorsed privatization, his association with figures such as Lee and his support for “free-market solutions” suggest he may be open to the idea.
If Musk were to back a proposal to shift Social Security from a government-administered program to one with private investment options, he would likely face stiff opposition from advocacy groups and the American public.