Trump Taps Musk, Ramaswamy for Bold Cuts: Will Medicare and Social Security Survive?

 

By Santa Clarita Star Staff

 

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut $500 billion in annual unauthorized spending, raising concerns about possible reductions to Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ healthcare. While proponents applaud their efforts to streamline federal bureaucracy, critics warn that such cuts could endanger vital safety-net programs for millions of Americans.

 

Washington — Proposals to reduce spending on Social Security and Medicare, two of the nation's most extensive entitlement programs, remain "third rails" in American politics. Lawmakers from both parties typically avoid directly targeting these benefits due to strong public support and the fear of voter backlash. Critics warn that changes could undermine financial stability for millions of older and disabled Americans, while supporters argue that reforms are needed to keep the programs solvent. Yet even bipartisan calls for long-term fixes often spark intense debate and swift pushback from advocacy groups. That has not stopped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy from trying even before Trump takes office.

 

President-elect Donald Trump has placed two of America's most polarizing entrepreneurs —Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy—in charge of the audacious undertaking of displacing and remaking federal government expenditure. Tasked with slashing $500 billion annually, the newly formed "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) has sparked widespread concerns about potential cuts to critical programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and veterans' healthcare. Despite the assurances that these proposals will eliminate "unauthorized" federal spending, opponents assert that these plans will deny needed assistance to the country's most vulnerable people: older adults, veterans, and low-income families.

 

DOGE Department Sparks Uproar with Plans to Cut ‘Unauthorized’ Federal Expenditures

In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Musk and Ramaswamy formally announced DOGE, a privately created advisory group without government affiliation. They both claim that the so-called off-budget federal spending, which they believe is currently more than $500 billion annually, is an excellent opportunity for significant fiscal reform. According to their proposal, cuts would target programs they claim are operating outside congressional approval or misaligned with lawmakers' intentions. The areas they identified include:

• The Corporation for Public Broadcasting ($535 million annually)

• Grants to international organizations ($1.5 billion annually)

• Planned Parenthood and other groups that provide women's healthcare ($300 million annually)

While such specific programs can only constitute a minor fraction of the federal budget, Musk and Ramaswamy have discussed deeper reductions. Critics also expect other programs that received expired appropriations, including Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans' healthcare services, to be cut. For instance, the Congressional Budget Office report revealed that in 2024, veterans' healthcare expenditure was $119 billion; it is unauthorized federal spending. Though Trump constantly insisted that Social Security and Medicare won't be touched, DOGE's expansive nature creates doubts on how such safeguards will be preserved. About 83% of the federal government's US 6.7 trillion budget on discretionary spending is devoted to mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and the military budget. While any cuts of that nature would be slightly less likely to harm these areas, nearly every attempt at large-scale savings has been described by experts as unrealistic without significantly decreasing entitlement programs, and Musk has called for $2 trillion in savings annually. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) the DOGE agenda on X (formerly known as Twitter) where she wrote, "Doesn't get lower than gutting some of the only lifelines left for veterans, seniors, widows, and the disabled."

 

The Congresswoman also doubted the advisory group's powers, saying that their recommendations are dangerous to the millions of Americans who rely on the safety net. Programs offering veterans healthcare may be especially vulnerable under DOGE's framework. Musk and Ramaswamy have not directly advocated that there must be a reduction in these services, but what is worrisome to advocacy groups is that veterans' healthcare is one of the most significant areas of excess spending that has not been authorized. A threatened reduction in funding for this segment could severely affect the Department of Veterans Affairs, which staffs over 400,000 healthcare providers across the US. Opponents, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have said that such a cut would be disastrous for veterans who seek physical or mental treatment at the VA. During a recent Senate hearing, she said: "Veterans risked their lives for this country; they shouldn't have to fight for basic medical care."

 

Federal Workforce Downsizing

Federal workforce downsizing is another major factor within the DOGE framework. Today, more than 2 million civilian workers are in the United States federal service, and the significant concentrations are in the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Agriculture. According to Musk and Ramaswamy, the federal bureaucracy is bloated and inefficient, with government agencies using an average of just 12% of their allocated office space in Washington, D.C.

 

In their Wall Street Journal piece, the duo proposed policies to incentivize voluntary retirements, severance payments, and stricter in-office requirements. They argue that requiring federal employees to return to the office five days a week could lead to voluntary resignations, streamlining the workforce. This is similar to how Musk has reduced his companies' workforce. Critics, however, see these measures as veiled attempts to undermine the stability of civil service jobs, often serving as lifelines for middle-class families across the country.

 

Learning from the Past

There is nothing unfamiliar with DOGE's mission to eliminate federal spending as part of the country's history. President Ronald Reagan called upon a businessman, J. Peter Grace, two decades before to suggest such changes and got over 2,500 cost-cutting recommendations. However, most of these suggestions were ignored because they faced stiff political and bureaucratic opposition. Experts foresee that the same issues could be a problem for DOGE.

"The idea of cutting $500 billion in unauthorized spending sounds appealing in theory, but the reality is far more complex," said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "Most unauthorized programs are essential services that Congress renews annually because they're critical to public welfare."

 

DOGE Meets Congress: Big Plans, Bigger Doubts

House Speaker Mike Johnson — a Republican from Louisiana — invited Musk and Ramaswamy to a separate meeting with lawmakers to discuss cost-saving strategies, which he said was "long overdue." However, other politicians like Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) proposed the DOGE Acts bills, which, if passed, will put a halt on federal employment and pay increases.

Conservative Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas stated that while he may not always agree with some of the suggestions being forwarded, he does appreciate efforts to analyze federal spending to identify inefficiencies.

 

Even though Musk and Ramaswamy have set big goals, their power to make real change remains questionable. Congress sets all federal expenses, and any amount that DOGE intends to cut can be reinstated by an act of Congress. Legal writers also ask whether the president has the prerogative to execute "mass head-count reductions" or relocate federal agencies in the manner sought by DOGE. Furthermore, some of DOGE's proposals have drawn ridicule, such as disbanding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Critics argue that the removal of NOAA's functions, such as weather prediction and severe storm notification, endangers lives.

 

Public Reaction and the Road Ahead

Public opinion on DOGE's efforts is split. Supporters on the right insist government spending must be reduced, while critics see this as an assault on programs millions of Americans depend on. Whether Musk and Ramaswamy can achieve a $500 billion net worth target without undermining essential public services remains to be seen. In the words of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, "The choices we make in the federal budget are moral statements about who and what we value." The nation will be watching closely to see how DOGE conveys its moral message.