Summary

At the first meeting of the DOGE Caucus, a new congressional group focused on government efficiency, Republican Rep. Greg Lopez stated that cuts to Social Security and Medicare are likely “on the table” as part of debt reduction efforts.

The caucus, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to slash government spending, raising concerns among advocacy groups about potential attacks on anti-poverty programs.

Critics, including Social Security Works, warn the caucus may push for privatization and benefit reductions.

This comes despite Trump’s prior commitment to protect these programs.

    • CitricBase@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      Yes, it’s a payroll tax. Your paycheck may show how much you are paying into Social Security. This is money meant to help you and others after retirement. Musk wants to take that money and instead use it to fill unrelated gaps in the federal budget, gaps caused by Trump’s tax cuts for the very wealthy.

        • DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world
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          9 days ago

          This is one of the rare cases where I want to laugh at the silly US, but can’t because our “scial security” (we call it “retirement savings”) is being missapropriated for general funds as well :(

          I just this year set up regular investment (part of my paycheck) into various funds to save for retirement privately.

          • Supervisor194@lemmy.world
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            9 days ago

            I just this year set up regular investment (part of my paycheck) into various funds to save for retirement privately.

            Social Security got the structure it has after the Great Depression wiped… well, you know. Everyone. Out.

            I’m sure your private equity will be run much more responsibly throughout your life though, no need for some big ol’ stupid government to guarantee your retirement or anything. Carry on!

            • DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world
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              8 days ago

              no need for some big ol’ stupid government to guarantee your retirement or anything.

              I still have the government guaranteed pension as well, not as if I could opt out even if I wanted to, which I don’t.

              The concept of the day: Diversification!

      • pound_heap@lemm.ee
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        9 days ago

        Social Security fund invested in government bonds, so the interest from that goes into the fund.

        To be fair the budget deficit was there before Trump. His campaign promises are going to increase it, but they can offset that partially with spending cuts. Also, the government has been using money from the Social Security fund routinely, again nothing new under Trump. They just count it as an internal debt. According to Wikipedia, by 2022 it’s been already about 20% of the fund “borrowed” by the government.

    • Bronzebeard@lemm.ee
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      8 days ago

      It doesn’t fund itself, but it’s a completely separate fund [bucket of money] than the rest of the government budget, with a specific tax that goes directly to it and nothing else.