Subcommittee Democrats Condemn DOGE’s Attacks on Social Security, Medicaid, and Other Essential Services Americans Rely On

Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2025)—Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, led Subcommittee Democrats in condemning the Trump Administration and DOGE’s efforts to make unsubstantiated claims of fraud to justify deeply unpopular cuts to Social Security and the vital services people across America depend on every day.

“[We have] come together to find a way to release the federal government of some of its ailments, particularly this whole notion of improper payments, waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Ranking Member Mfume in his opening statement. “We did that throughout the 118th Congress and my colleagues and I on this subcommittee all remain laser-focused on combating those matters.  I think we also have always agreed that this is a nonpartisan matter, no matter where we are in our country or philosophically, we agree that every dollar directed to every program ought to go to the intended purpose.” 

The hearing included testimony from Jennifer Wagner, Director of Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Kristen Kociolek, Managing Director, Financial Management Assurance, U.S. Government Accountability Office, (GAO); and Ken Dieffenbach, Executive Director, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Committee Democrats highlighted clear solutions to improper payments and fraud. 

• Ranking Member Mfume emphasized the hard work and focus needed to address the problem of improper payments and fraud:  “Combating fraud, improper payments, and abuse is not as simple as waving a magic wand or a chainsaw.  Real progress relies on access to quality data, it means thoughtful partnership with agency leaders, and it means investments into the technology and the staff needed to create proper internal controls to prevent improper payments and fraud.”
   
• Rep. Emily Randall noted the ample opportunities to improve efficiency and deliver better results by expanding information-sharing platforms to cut down on concurrent Medicaid enrollments between states:  “I know we will have in the next couple of years, some changes to that database to monitor when someone moves and changes their address, but it doesn’t allow agencies like the Healthcare Authority in Washington to track whether there’s concurrent enrollment, and that would be something that I’d love the chance to work on with my colleagues.” 

Committee Democrats noted the importance of supporting the oversight community, including GAO and Inspectors General, in tracking whether funding for government programs goes to its intended recipients.  

• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton noted how the Trump Administration’s mass firing of inspectors general cuts against the goal of preventing improper payments and fraud:  “Inspectors general fulfill a vital oversight and accountability function in the government, including through identifying and preventing improper payments.  IGs are also responsible for keeping Congress informed of fraud and other serious problems and informing us about progress in implementing solutions as we consider ways to attack the problem of improper payments.  It is critical that we do not undermine these officials who serve as our partners in this fight.” 
   
• Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who received permission to waive on to the Subcommittee for this hearing, pointed out the absurdity of Republicans stating on one hand their desire to cut waste, fraud, and abuse while simultaneously firing 18 inspectors general:  “If you’re telling the American people that this is a focus of your Administration, and then you go fire all of the IGs, that doesn’t seem to compute.” 

Committee Democrats called out the Trump-Musk Administration’s fabrication of improper payments to justify cutting Social Security, Medicaid, and federal assistance programs. 

• Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost called out the Republican bait-and-switch in which they circulate unsubstantiated claims of fraud and use those fictions to justify cuts to the social safety net:  “We’ve heard this constant lie from Elon Musk that tens of millions of dead people are getting Social Security paychecks.  Claiming fraud in Social Security, I think, is one way that folks are going to try to justify cutting it, pocketing the benefits for billionaires, privatizing it … Musk is calling it a Ponzi scheme as an excuse to destroy it, in my opinion.  Americans earn Social Security through years of hard work and it’s a good investment … It’s one of the most popular government services, and most people support more funding for Social Security, not less.” 

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