1. Social Security Payments to “150-Year-Olds”Musk claimed that Social Security was sending payments to people over 150 years old, suggesting massive fraud (e.g., during an Oval Office event and on X, where he cited over 20 million centenarians receiving checks). However, this was a misrepresentation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) data shows only about 89,000 people aged 99 or older received benefits in December 2024. The “150-year-old” claim stemmed from a database quirk—individuals without updated death records don’t necessarily receive payments. An SSA Inspector General report from 2021 found just $300 million in payments to deceased beneficiaries over two decades, with a third recovered, equating to less than 1% of total payouts. This is routine administrative error, not systemic fraud, and the spending is valid for eligible recipients.

2. USAID’s $50 Million for “Condoms in Gaza”Musk amplified a White House claim that DOGE thwarted a $50 million USAID expenditure for condoms in Gaza, implying it was fraudulent or wasteful, with speculation that funds went to Hamas. Fact-checking revealed no evidence of such a specific allocation. USAID’s 2023 fiscal year spending on contraceptives globally was $60.8 million, with $7 million for condoms, distributed across multiple countries for family planning—not a Gaza-specific $50 million fraud. The International Medical Corps, cited in the claim, denied receiving U.S. funds for condoms in Gaza since October 2023. This was valid programmatic spending, not fraud.

3. Federal Tax Credit Increases (“IRS Welfare”)Musk shared a chart on X showing jumps in federal tax credits from 2018 to 2021, labeling them “IRS Welfare” and hinting at fraud or misuse. These increases were due to legislated policy: the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (signed by Trump) expanded the Child Tax Credit, causing the 2018 spike, while 2020-2021 jumps reflected COVID-19 relief measures. This spending was authorized by Congress, not fraudulent, despite Musk’s insinuations.

4. Media Subscriptions (e.g., New York Times)Musk and DOGE criticized federal spending on subscriptions to outlets like The New York Times as wasteful or fraudulent. Records show $1.6 million spent since 2020, mostly by the Department of Defense for subscriptions—hardly a significant fraud. This is standard operational spending for government agencies to stay informed, not illicit activity.

5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ContractsMusk highlighted DEI-related contracts as examples of fraudulent or wasteful spending targeted by DOGE. For instance, a CulturePoint contract was listed as a $10 million “fraud” on DOGE’s “wall of receipts,” but the company clarified it was a $100,000 unexecuted credit line, not a signed contract. These expenditures, while debatable in priority, are legally budgeted and align with agency missions, not fraud.

In these cases, Musk’s “fraud” label often reflects ideological disagreement or exaggeration rather than illegal activity. Independent analyses, like the Government Accountability Office’s 2024 report estimating $233 billion to $521 billion in annual federal fraud, focus on improper payments (e.g., in healthcare or pandemic relief), not the specific programs Musk cites. His examples frequently turn out to be valid spending—authorized, documented, and purposeful—despite his framing. Without DOGE providing concrete evidence of criminal intent or misappropriation in these instances, they remain mischaracterized as fraud.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5702285&forum_id=2#48797234)