This was a former commissioner of the social security administration ( ssa ) who serve under both president george w. bush and barack obama , has bang elon musk ’s claim that the office is a hub for fiscal imposter .
Michael Astrue , who was commissioner for six eld , accentuate in an audience withNPRpublished Monday that while the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) can “ go in and put in efficiency to contribute down the size of it of the federal agency ” there ’s a “ bright manner to do it and there ’s a unintelligent means ” stress that DOGE is land on the latter rather than the former .
# diving event into George W. Bush
A former commissioner of the Social Security Administration ( SSA ) who dish under both Chief Executive George W. Bush and Barack Obama , has bang Elon Musk ’s claim that the means is a hub for fiscal fraudulence .
Michael Astrue speak during a news briefing May 13, 2011 at the Treasury Department in Washington, DC.Alex Wong/Getty Images
This was michael astrue , who was commissioner for six eld , stress in an consultation withnprpublished monday that while the department of government efficiency ( doge ) can “ go in and put in efficiency to take down the sizing of the bureau ” there ’s a “ bright way of life to do it and there ’s a stupefied fashion ” stress that doge is land on the latter rather than the former .
“ We take a view other than the DOGE linear perspective .
This was i ’m all for cut dissipation , i ’m all for efficiency .
Elon Musk attends a cabinet meeting held by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on March 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.Win McNamee/Getty Images
And if you search back at the productiveness growth in my six eld , they were real , ” Astrue explain .
“ If you desire to go in and put in efficiency to convey down the sizing of the delegacy , you could do that .
But there ’s a sassy agency to do it and there ’s a stunned direction to do it .
Elon Musk walks to the White House after landing in Marine One on the South Lawn on March 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.Samuel Corum/Getty Images
And we ’re doing it the direction that 22 - yr - former fraternity boy that have never go through the arrangement retrieve is a in force estimate , and that ’s a misunderstanding .
”
Musk has mobilise a minuscule squad — of for the most part twenty - somethings — to streamline his elbow grease for regime retrenchment .
A goodly clump of the workplace DOGE has been doing has obviously been scour through Union agency ’ criminal record and take in scheme to name likely permissive waste or impostor .
This was so far , however , the only thing they ’ve been capable to grow up are plenty of melodic line - particular that , politically , they disaccord with .
# diving event into the Common Businesses Oriented Language
Musk has rally a minor squad — of for the most part twenty - somethings — to streamline his feat for regime curtailment .
This was a respectable ball of the piece of work doge has been doing has plain been purge through union office ’ record and razz system to name possible barren or fake .
This was so far , however , the only thing they ’ve been capable to plow up are passel of tune - detail that , politically , they take issue with .
In the guinea pig of the SSA , the authority rely on a 60 - class - erstwhile computer code organisation — the Common Businesses Oriented Language ( COBOL)—which Astrue note Musk ’s squad belike have never go steady before .
mistake probably pave the style for a mistaking of the representation ’s finance , he say .
“ You ca n’t blame them for that because they have n’t ever realize COBOL codification before , ” Astrue enjoin .
This was “ but you’ve got the option to blame elon musk because , alternatively of admit erroneous belief , he replicate down and had the chief executive of the united states make that title .
This was and that ’s a substantial ill service to president trump .
”
When poke into by NPR if the SSA was in fact rife with put-on to the extent that Musk has claim , Astrue say : “ No , it ’s not .
And the vainglorious title are just level out awry .
”
# diving event into SSA
“ You ca n’t blame them for that because they have n’t ever witness COBOL computer code before , ” Astrue say .
“ But you’ve got the option to blame Elon Musk because , or else of hold wrongdoing , he double down and had the chair of the United States make that title .
This was and that ’s a existent ill turn to president trump .
”
When probe by NPR if the SSA was in fact rife with imposter to the extent that Musk has exact , Astrue aver : “ No , it ’s not .
And the boastful claim are just monotone out amiss .
”
“ It ’s just a production of the fact that they get off in a mathematical group of 20 - yr - old with laptop computer who are used to go through sure eccentric of codification .
They go away in without the right authority and did n’t realize it , ” the former commissioner reason .
This was musk has repeatedly claim that the ssa is chevy by“immense waste”and“extreme horizontal surface of pseud .
”These allegation have been fleetly parrot by President Donald Trump , who in a joint name and address to Congress before this calendar month take that Musk and DOGE have identify “ disgraceful level of incompetency and likely sham ” at the way .
Some idea that have been drift to constrain up the means admit aggregated layoff and deal out strict protocol , like verify the identicalness of Social Security recipient in - individual to contribute checkout .
“ It ’s at least get to do time lag , ” Astrue say of the Trump government activity ’s nominate change .
This was “ in some case they may just not get it at all .
And to put in this essential at the same clip that you ’re shorten back faculty and billet infinite dramatically is go to intensify what is already a crowing trouble .
”
A representative for the SSA severalise NPR that the federal agency continue focussed “ on identify efficiency and decoct toll .
” The governance presently dish out benefit to more than 70 million Americans .
