The public record includes two different kinds of statements from Elon Musk in March 2025: he described entitlement spending as the major target to eliminate, then promised that legitimate Social Security recipients would receive “more Social Security, not less.” Those statements do not establish whether he supports reducing legally scheduled benefits. He should answer that question directly and explain how his position fits with his call to eliminate entitlement spending.
What Musk said about Social Security and entitlement spending
March 10: entitlements as a spending target
The Associated Press reported on March 10, 2025, that Musk said, “Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” followed by, “That’s the big one to eliminate.” AP also quoted him calling Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” These remarks address entitlement spending broadly and Social Security’s structure; they do not, on their own, spell out a specific proposal to reduce scheduled benefit amounts. Associated Press report, March 10, 2025.
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March 27: a promise of more, not less
In a Fox News interview excerpt published by Sky News Australia on March 27, Musk said: “What we’re doing will help their benefits, the legitimate people as a result of the work of DOGE will receive more Social Security, not less.” He added, “I want to emphasize that, let the record show that I said this, and it will be proven out to be true.” Those are Musk’s assurances about the effects of DOGE’s work, not independently demonstrated outcomes. Sky News Australia interview excerpt, March 27, 2025.
What remains unanswered
The two statements leave a key distinction unresolved: does Musk support reducing the benefit amounts Social Security law currently schedules, or is his call to eliminate entitlement spending aimed at something else? A promise that legitimate recipients will receive more does not explain what he meant by eliminating entitlements, while a broad spending statement does not specify which benefits, if any, he would change.
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The White House separately said in a March 2025 fact-check that the administration would not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. That is the administration’s stated position; it is not a personal answer from Musk about his own policy preference. White House fact-check, March 2025.
Benefit cuts are not the same as agency or service cuts
Social Security benefits, the agency’s operations, and efforts to prevent improper payments are related but distinct. On February 19, 2025, Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek said DOGE personnel were working at the Social Security Administration and described the agency as part of an effort to identify fraud, waste, and abuse. That establishes agency involvement, not a change to benefit eligibility or statutory payment amounts. Social Security Administration statement, February 19, 2025.
AP’s account of Social Security office closures described them in the context of workforce reductions. Fewer staff or office changes can affect how people interact with the agency, but they do not automatically reduce the benefits a person is legally scheduled to receive. The same AP explainer cited the 2024 trustees report’s projection that the relevant trust funds would be unable to pay full scheduled benefits beginning in 2035. That is a financing projection—not a claim that benefits would become zero, proof of a particular policy choice, or evidence of Musk’s intentions. Associated Press explainer on Social Security office closures.
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AP reported that the Social Security Administration inspector general identified $71.8 billion in improper payments across fiscal years 2015 through 2022. The White House gave a rounded estimate of $72 billion for the same period. These are attributed estimates of improper payments; the cited sources do not establish that every improper payment was fraudulent. AP’s report and the White House fact-check report the respective figures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The direct question Musk should answer
Musk should say plainly whether he supports reducing legally scheduled Social Security benefits. If he does not, he should explain what he meant when he said entitlement spending was the major thing to eliminate; if he does, he should identify the changes he supports. His March 27 assurance about legitimate recipients is relevant, but it does not resolve that policy question.
The statements discussed here are dated March 2025. They establish what Musk and the White House said at that time, not whether Musk later clarified his position or what policy ultimately followed.
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