The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has finalized a significant overhaul of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records, removing 12.3 million individuals listed as 120 years or older from its database. This massive cleanup, completed in May 2025, addresses longstanding issues with outdated records and potential vulnerabilities to fraud, aligning with President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate waste in federal programs. The effort has sparked widespread discussion, with supporters praising the move as a step toward fiscal responsibility, while critics question its impact on the SSA’s operations and vulnerable beneficiaries. This article delves into the details of the cleanup, its implications, and the broader context of DOGE’s mission.
A Historic Cleanup of Social Security Records
The Social Security Administration’s Numident database, which tracks all Social Security numbers issued since 1936, had long contained inaccuracies, including millions of records lacking death information for individuals born before 1920. A 2023 SSA inspector general report identified 18.9 million such records, with individuals listed as 100 or older, though only 44,000 were receiving benefits. DOGE’s initiative, launched in March 2025, targeted these discrepancies, focusing on records of individuals aged 120 and above, an age far exceeding the oldest documented human lifespan of 122 years, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
DOGE’s cleanup progressed rapidly. By March 18, 3.2 million records of individuals aged 120+ were marked as deceased, as announced on X. By April 24, this number rose to 11 million, and the final update on May 20 confirmed that 12.3 million records had been corrected, effectively closing out the project. The effort involved updating records to reflect accurate death information, primarily for individuals who likely died decades ago, before electronic death reporting became standard. The SSA clarified in a March 5 statement that these records did not necessarily indicate active benefit payments, emphasizing the need for accurate record-keeping regardless of payment status.
[](https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/05/26/doge-social-security-officially-removes-12-3-million-individuals-listed-age-120/)
Context: Addressing Fraud or Exposing Systemic Flaws?
The cleanup was spurred by claims from President Trump and Elon Musk, who in February 2025 alleged that millions of individuals listed as over 100 were receiving Social Security benefits, with Musk jokingly suggesting “vampires” were collecting checks. These claims, amplified on X, were later clarified by the SSA and experts as exaggerations. Of the 67 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits in 2024, only 89,106 were aged 99 or older, and just 13 were likely over 112, per a 2015 SSA audit. The agency has automatically halted payments to those listed as 115 or older since September 2015, significantly reducing the risk of improper payments to deceased individuals.
[](https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36Y83WL)[](https://www.factcheck.org/2025/02/trump-musk-exaggerate-scale-of-improper-social-security-payments-to-the-dead/)
However, the presence of 12.3 million records with improbable ages highlighted systemic issues in the SSA’s database, particularly its reliance on COBOL, a 65-year-old programming language. Experts, including those cited by WIRED, noted that missing or incomplete birthdates often defaulted to dates over 150 years ago, such as May 20, 1875, due to coding quirks. A 2023 audit estimated that updating the Numident database would cost $9 million, a cost the SSA previously deemed unjustified given the low number of improper payments—$71.8 billion from 2015 to 2022, less than 1% of the $8.6 trillion disbursed. DOGE’s intervention, however, prioritized the cleanup, with Musk arguing it could prevent indirect waste, such as fraudulent use of Social Security numbers.
[](https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/02/20/150-year-olds-are-not-receiving-social-security-payments)[](https://time.com/7258453/trump-musk-social-security-dead-fraud-fact-check/)
Supporter Perspectives: A Win for Efficiency
Supporters of the cleanup, including many Republicans, view it as a triumph of Trump’s “America First” agenda, with 94% of GOP voters approving of his leadership, per a May 2025 J.L. Partners poll. Posts on X, such as those from @Rightanglenews and @libsoftiktok, celebrated the removal of 12.3 million records as a critical step in eliminating waste and potential fraud. The White House highlighted DOGE’s broader achievements, including $3.4 billion in cuts across federal programs, such as $1 billion in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) contracts and $881 million in Department of Education grants. Proponents argue that cleaning up the SSA’s database strengthens the program’s integrity, ensuring benefits reach living recipients, particularly the 15 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries.
[](https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/05/26/doge-social-security-officially-removes-12-3-million-individuals-listed-age-120/)
Financial experts like Alex Beene, quoted in Newsweek, emphasized that while fraud exists, the cleanup underscores the need to modernize antiquated government databases. The Treasury Department’s recovery of $31 million in improper payments to deceased individuals in 2023, with projections to recoup $215 million by 2026, further supports the case for such reforms. Supporters see DOGE’s efforts as a model for future efficiency drives, potentially saving billions by updating other federal systems.
[](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-doge-100-150-year-olds-cobol-elon-musk/)[](https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-over-100-payments-elon-musk-claims-2032774)
Critic Perspectives: Concerns Over SSA Operations
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and Social Security advocates, argue that DOGE’s focus on exaggerated claims of fraud distracts from the SSA’s real challenges, such as understaffing and long wait times. ProPublica reported that the SSA’s staffing levels are at a 50-year low, exacerbated by DOGE’s workforce cuts and office closures, which could harm the 67 million beneficiaries, including 15 million SSI and SSDI recipients. Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted that beneficiaries prioritize more staff and accessible offices, not database cleanups, to reduce delays that can last months or years for disability claims.
[](https://www.propublica.org/article/doge-social-security-elon-musk-trump-closures-benefits)
Experts like Charles Blahous, a former Social Security trustee, told ABC News that improper payments, while a concern, are minimal compared to other programs like Medicaid, where error rates are higher. A 2021 SSA report identified $298 million in payments to 24,000 deceased beneficiaries, with $84 million recovered, indicating that fraud is not as widespread as claimed. Critics also highlight errors where living beneficiaries were incorrectly marked as deceased, disrupting their benefits. The SSA’s reliance on COBOL and incomplete death reporting from sources like family members and funeral homes further complicates accurate record-keeping.
[](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/musk-misreads-social-security-data-millions-dead-people/story?id=118960821)[](https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36Y83WL)
Broader Implications for Social Security and DOGE’s Mission
The cleanup is part of DOGE’s broader mandate to cut $2 trillion in federal spending by July 4, 2026, as set by President Trump. The SSA, one of DOGE’s top targets, faces additional scrutiny as Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek navigates reforms amid reported tensions with Musk’s team. The resignation of former Commissioner Michelle King in February 2025, reportedly over DOGE’s data access demands, underscores the challenges of balancing efficiency with operational stability. The SSA’s “Full Death Master File,” with 142 million records, remains a critical tool for preventing improper payments, but its limitations highlight the need for systemic upgrades.
[](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-doge-100-150-year-olds-cobol-elon-musk/)[](https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36Y83WL)
The cleanup’s impact on beneficiaries remains unclear. While the SSA confirmed that “almost none” of the 12.3 million records were linked to active payments, the process could uncover rare cases of identity theft, as a 2015 audit found $3.1 billion in earnings reported under 66,920 misused Social Security numbers. However, the focus on improbable ages risks overshadowing more pressing issues, such as the SSA’s projected insolvency by the mid-2030s, which could reduce benefits by 20% without reform.
[](https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/02/18/musk-150-year-old-social-security/)[](https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-over-100-payments-elon-musk-claims-2032774)
Public and Political Reactions
Public sentiment, as reflected on X, is divided. Supporters like @EricLDaugh and @OANN praised DOGE’s efficiency, with posts garnering thousands of likes for ending “waste and fraud.” Conversely, Democratic protests outside SSA headquarters, reported by Fox News, expressed concerns about disruptions to vulnerable beneficiaries. Polls show Trump’s approval at 39-45% overall, with 31% among independents, per CNN, indicating that DOGE’s actions resonate strongly with the GOP base but less so with broader audiences. The 2026 midterms will likely test whether such reforms bolster or undermine public trust in the administration.
[](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/elon-musk-says-millions-social-security-database-between-ages-100-159)
Conclusion: A Step Toward Efficiency or a Distraction?
DOGE’s removal of 12.3 million Social Security records for individuals listed as 120 or older marks a significant milestone in the Trump administration’s efficiency drive. While supporters celebrate the cleanup as a victory against potential fraud and waste, critics argue it highlights outdated systems rather than widespread abuse. With the SSA facing staffing shortages and an insolvency crisis, the long-term impact of DOGE’s reforms remains uncertain. As the administration continues its push to streamline federal programs, the balance between cutting waste and protecting vulnerable beneficiaries will shape the legacy of this high-profile initiative.
What do you think about DOGE’s Social Security cleanup? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on this critical issue.
