Since 2020, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered $382 million in fraudulent unemployment payments, with California, New York, and Massachusetts—Democrat-led states—accounting for $305 million.
California distributed 68% of benefits to parolees on the terror watchlist. DOGE also uncovered benefits issued to individuals with fake birth records, including some over 115 years old or not yet born. Weak immigration screening under the Biden administration allowed over 6,000 flagged individuals to receive benefits. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields blamed Democrat policies for the mismanagement. DOGE estimates it will save $150 billion in fiscal year 2026 by reducing waste. Elon Musk, leading the initiative, criticized certain programs as “absurd,” and noted savings of $931 per taxpayer, though he revised his savings goal to $1 trillion.
