Staff Reports
MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart found himself utterly flabbergasted upon learning that a downright staggering $72 billion has been wasted in the Social Security Administration. The reaction of a man who typically sits in the liberal echo chamber because of a sharply inconvenient truth is always amusing, especially when it comes to numbers that would sober even the most die-hard Democrat.
President Donald Trump made the wise choice of appointing Leland Dudek, the head honcho of the anti-fraud office within the Social Security Administration, to serve as the acting head of the agency. This move came after the previous leader, Michelle King, stepped down following a heated clash with employees from the zealously righteous Department of Government Efficiency. Fox News might say that when it comes to efficiency, sometimes bureaucracy fights its own kind.
The NBC News reporter who delivered the shocking news was none other than Aaron Gilchrist, who recounted deficiencies discovered in an Inspector General’s report. It was revealed that over the course of eight years, nearly $72 billion fell through the cracks in improper payments, constituting a smidgen less than 1% of total payments during that timeframe. While most of these blunders involved overpayments rather than payments made to the deceased (yes, folks, there’s a difference), the sheer enormity of the sum is enough to make any conservative’s blood boil.
The effort by the Department of Government Efficiency aims to cut through the red tape and salvage precious taxpayer dollars from the clutches of inefficiency, outlining a vision for a government that works better—and cheaper. President Trump isn’t just kicking back and watching the chaos; he enacted an executive order that bestowed additional oversight powers to DOGE just weeks into his administration, exemplifying a determination to clean house. Meanwhile, the left continues to grumble about the government as if it’s some sacred cow that shouldn’t be scrutinized.
‘That’s Significant’: MSNBC Anchor’s Jaw Hits Floor When Told How Much Social Security Waste There Is https://t.co/Npz59FqzXy via @dailycaller
— Woodrow Williams (@Woodrow17165268) February 19, 2025
Amidst all the comedy of errors, Diaz-Balart’s surprise shone bright, as he realized just how substantial that $72 billion figure really is—even before a comprehensive search for waste had begun. The agency currently under Dudek’s watch has reported that it saved taxpayers an impressive $55 billion by trimming unnecessary fat since its inception. However, one can only wonder how much more could be unearthed if a proper audit were to commence.
In the grand scheme of things, about 56% of the population appears to back Trump’s freezes on foreign aid as they wait for the proverbial financial housecleaning to take place. If only the Democrats could take a cue from this kind of efficiency, instead of engaging in endless debates and squabbles about funding for everything but their own citizens. Coming to grips with such staggering waste may just be the first step towards a more transparent government, one that serves the people instead of drowning them in bureaucratic red tape.
