THE LEVIN LETTER: The Truth About Musk’s Destruction of Government
I want to be clear: I strongly believe we need to get our debt and deficits under control. But the only responsible way to do that is through a balanced approach—one that looks at both spending and revenue while protecting programs that seniors, veterans, and working families rely on. That’s why, for example, I’ve supported plans to keep Social Security solvent for decades by ensuring the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share of payroll taxes—just like middle-class workers already do.
What we’re getting instead is a dangerous one-two punch: Elon Musk’s takeover of the federal government through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—which I call the Destruction of Government by Elon—combined with a deeply irresponsible Republican budget that hands out even more tax breaks to billionaires and the biggest corporations while ballooning the national debt.
Let’s start with Musk. Despite his claims, he hasn’t uncovered any vast web of fraud. What he’s done is release a sloppy, error-filled list of so-called “savings” designed to light up social media, not improve government. His team double-counted savings, took credit for money already spent, and exaggerated numbers by billions. There’s been zero evidence of widespread fraud, because what Musk calls “waste” is usually just programs he doesn’t like.
There is a way to root out waste—through thoughtful, independent oversight consistent with our system of checks and balances. President Bill Clinton’s Administration showed us how— with a careful review of federal programs done in consultation with Congress that helped balance the budget while protecting vital services. That’s real fiscal responsibility.
Musk’s slash-and-burn chaos ignores the consequences. That’s how we’ve already seen reckless decisions that put nuclear security at risk, gutted programs to fight Ebola, and cut off coordination with local governments on disaster response and water safety. This isn’t about saving money—it’s about dismantling the government itself, no matter who gets hurt.
And let’s talk about Musk’s real agenda—because it’s not just about slashing programs.
Many believe he wants access to sensitive government data to train his AI model. That’s why he’s demanding information from agencies like the Social Security Administration and Health and Human Services. This isn’t about transparency—it’s about feeding his business interests under the guise of “efficiency.” It’s a massive conflict of interest, and it’s dangerous.
Let’s talk about real-world impacts of these cuts. Slashing staff at the Social Security Administration means longer waits for seniors and people with disabilities to apply for benefits, fix errors, or appeal decisions. Gutting staff at Medicare’s parent agency means slower claims processing, fewer fraud protections, and less help during open enrollment—leaving millions of seniors to navigate a complex system alone. Over 2,400 VA employees have been fired, hurting veterans’ care and services. Finally, remember that roughly one-third of all federal workers who have been fired are veterans themselves. This isn’t efficiency—it’s exploitation and betrayal.
Let me also address Musk’s recent claim on Joe Rogan’s podcast that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. That is a blatant lie. A Ponzi scheme is when money from new investors pays off older investors—enriching the person running the scam. Social Security is an insurance program, funded by payroll taxes that workers and employers pay every paycheck. That money pays benefits to today’s retirees and builds a trust fund for future generations. There’s no scam—just a promise: you pay in, you get the benefits you’ve earned.
Finally, let’s shift to the House Republican budget. The 2017 Trump tax law already added nearly $2 trillion to the debt, mostly through tax cuts for the wealthy and the biggest corporations. Now, Republicans want to pile on another $4 trillion in new debt over the next decade to expand those giveaways—while slashing at least $880 billion from Medicaid, ripping health care away from the most vulnerable Americans.
You can’t be a fiscal conservative and support this bloated budget. Blowing up the deficit to reward billionaires, then pretending the only way to fix it is to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, isn’t fiscal responsibility—it’s a heist. Working families, seniors, and veterans are the ones left paying the price.
I’ll always work to cut actual waste, improve government efficiency, and protect the programs that matter most to the people I serve. But I’ll never stand by while a billionaire’s vanity project and misdirected Republican priorities threaten to destroy the programs that strengthen our families and communities.
U.S. Representative Mike Levin represents the 49th Congressional District, which includes the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was reelected in 2024 to serve his fourth term. He resides in San Juan Capistrano with his wife and two children.
By: Rep. Mike Levin
Source: San Clemente Times