Musk and Trump's Cost-Cutting Focuses on Ideological Targets, Skirting Major Budget Items Like Social Security and Medicare

Washington D.C. - Elon Musk and President Trump's initiative to cut government waste is targeting agencies disliked by conservatives, prioritizing ideological differences over substantial budget savings. * Agencies under scrutiny include NOAA, the Department of Education, and USAID, perceived as pushing liberal agendas. * DOGE claimed $37.69 billion in savings, but the methodology is unclear. * Significant spending programs like Social Security and Medicare remain largely untouched, despite DOGE accessing payment systems at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. * USAID disbursed approximately $72 billion in aid in fiscal year 2023, about 1% of total federal outlays.