Larson: Trump-Musk Have Their Target Set on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security

Washington, D.C. - Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after Elon Musk identified Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as key targets of the Trump Administration for cuts in an interview on Fox Business. 

“When you hear Elon Musk and Donald Trump, take them at their word,” said Larson. “They believe Medicare and Social Security are entitlements. They are not. They are earned benefits that hard-working people have paid for. Why are they going after this? It is not to deal with the debt, but to hand out more tax cuts to the billionaire class that they represent. All anyone has to do is look at their pay stub – FICA – Federal Insurance Contributions Act – to see that is money you have paid into the Social Security Trust Funds. Trump and Musk are after it so they can privatize the system. We must bring them before the Ways and Means Committee to provide answers for the American public, but thus far, Republicans have blocked our attempts to get to the truth. Democrats will continue to fight to protect these programs from Trump and Musk’s disastrous ‘DOGE’ plans. We are looking for three Republicans to stand with us. Are there any Republicans who will stand up to Trump and Musk, or do they agree that these benefits should be cut and privatized?”