-(4)-1731951738-q80.webp){kind=small}
During a recent rally in Wisconsin, Elon Musk shared a chart that has since drawn significant attention, showing millions of noncitizens were granted Social Security numbers (SSNs) during Joe Biden’s presidency.
This revelation was part of a broader discussion at the event where Musk and his colleague Antonio Gracias discussed their ongoing probe into government fraud. While the event’s focus was the controversial state judicial race, it quickly shifted to these eye-opening figures and the implications they have for the nation’s Social Security system.
Musk, known for his outspoken approach to governance and his role at the forefront of the DOGE initiative, joined Gracias to delve into their investigation of the U.S. government’s Social Security database.
The chart displayed during the event, which indicated a substantial increase in the number of noncitizens receiving SSNs under Biden, has raised eyebrows and sparked a renewed debate over the integrity of the Social Security system. The numbers themselves, coupled with Musk’s commentary, suggest a troubling trend that critics of the current administration might seize upon as a significant point of contention.
This revelation comes as part of Musk’s broader scrutiny of federal programs and agencies, particularly those related to public assistance, as he aims to identify fraud and inefficiencies within the U.S. governmental system. Musk, who has been critical of what he views as widespread bureaucratic waste, sees this revelation as an important step in uncovering flaws in the system that could affect millions of Americans.
His comments and the accompanying chart have ignited debates on issues related to immigration, public assistance, and the long-term sustainability of U.S. programs meant to serve citizens.
The chart Musk shared during the rally was titled “New Non-Citizen Social Security Numbers Issued,” and it immediately garnered attention due to the sheer scale of the numbers involved. The chart showed a steady increase in the issuance of SSNs to noncitizens, with a significant jump between fiscal years (FY).
The total number of noncitizens issued Social Security numbers in FY 2024 alone reached over 2 million, an increase from about 1 million in FY 2023. The data indicated a continued rise in FY 2025, which had begun in October 2024 and would extend until September 2025.
Musk, clearly taken aback by the scale of the figures, described the chart as “mind-blowing” and emphasized that this discovery was made “by accident” while his team was focused on investigating fraud in the Social Security system.
Antonio Gracias, a key figure in the DOGE initiative, explained that their original purpose was to audit the Social Security system to identify fraud, and this issue was an unexpected but significant finding. Gracias’ comments underscored the fact that they were not actively looking for this particular issue but stumbled upon it while attempting to understand the system’s vulnerabilities.
“Here we are, mapping the system to find fraud, and this is what jumped out at us,” Gracias said, pointing to the chart. “When we saw these numbers, we were like, ‘What is this?’”
The chart illustrated a consistent and alarming increase in the number of noncitizens receiving SSNs under the Biden administration, which only added fuel to the fire of the debate surrounding immigration and public assistance programs. While the chart provided raw data, it was presented as part of a broader conversation about government inefficiency and potential fraud, which Musk and DOGE have sought to expose through their investigations.
The figures shown in the chart have sparked a debate that goes beyond just the issuance of Social Security numbers. Critics have questioned how noncitizens are receiving these numbers and whether it aligns with the intended use of such a critical government program.
The issuance of SSNs to noncitizens raises concerns about the accessibility of public assistance programs to individuals who may not be legally entitled to them, further intensifying the ongoing national conversation about immigration policies and the allocation of taxpayer-funded resources.
One of the most pressing issues raised by these findings is the potential misuse of public assistance programs. During the rally, Musk and Gracias made it clear that their investigation into the Social Security system was meant to uncover fraud and inefficiencies.
While the chart revealed the scope of noncitizens receiving SSNs, it also provided a broader critique of how the system could be exploited.
This issue comes at a time when the Trump administration has taken strong stances on immigration, particularly in regard to the benefits noncitizens can access. President Trump’s administration signed an executive order that sought to prevent noncitizens from receiving public assistance, arguing that such services should be reserved for U.S. citizens.
This move was part of a larger agenda to limit government benefits to noncitizens, including in areas like housing and healthcare.
The revelations about noncitizens receiving SSNs are part of a broader investigation led by DOGE, which has sought to examine various federal programs and agencies to identify fraud and inefficiencies.
Musk and his team have uncovered significant issues within the Social Security Administration (SSA), including the removal of approximately 7 million Social Security accounts belonging to individuals listed as being over 120 years old. Additionally, DOGE has found that the SSA database contained over 20 million records of deceased individuals marked as alive.
These findings are part of Musk’s broader agenda to expose what he sees as systemic issues within federal programs, particularly those dealing with Social Security, public assistance, and immigration. Musk has criticized the government for its lack of accountability and transparency in handling taxpayer dollars, and these discoveries are part of his ongoing efforts to highlight inefficiencies that could be costing the American public.
“We went there to find fraud, and we found this by accident,” Gracias said, reflecting the unexpected nature of their findings but also highlighting the scale of the problem they believe exists within the system.
The revelation that millions of noncitizens received SSNs, along with the other issues discovered within the Social Security system, has prompted calls for a closer examination of the government’s oversight mechanisms.
The issue of noncitizens receiving Social Security numbers also ties into broader policies enacted under the Trump administration. One of Trump’s first executive orders upon taking office was designed to restrict noncitizens’ access to public assistance and social services.
This order aimed to ensure that benefits meant for U.S. citizens were not being used by individuals who were not legally entitled to them.
In line with this directive, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a new initiative in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve communication between the two agencies. This initiative seeks to ensure that noncitizens are not receiving public housing benefits, which are meant to be allocated to U.S. citizens and legal residents.
Musk’s revelations about the Social Security system’s flaws come at a time when the Trump administration is actively working to curtail the access of noncitizens to public services. The administration’s focus on limiting noncitizens’ access to benefits has sparked controversy, especially among advocates for immigrant rights who argue that such policies are discriminatory and unfairly target vulnerable populations.
The public reaction to Musk’s revelations has been mixed. Supporters of Musk and his investigation into federal fraud have hailed his efforts to uncover inefficiencies and identify areas of government waste. For many, the idea that millions of noncitizens were issued Social Security numbers under Biden raises serious concerns about the integrity of the Social Security system and the proper use of taxpayer-funded resources.
Critics, on the other hand, have questioned the motives behind Musk’s investigation and whether his focus on immigration and public assistance is politically driven. Some have argued that the issue of noncitizens receiving SSNs is being exaggerated to serve a larger narrative about immigration and government spending.
Others have pointed out that the chart Musk presented does not necessarily indicate fraud but may be part of a broader attempt to address systemic challenges within the Social Security system.
Moving forward, the debate surrounding these findings is likely to intensify. As more information comes to light about the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict noncitizens’ access to public assistance, questions will continue to be raised about the balance between ensuring that public resources are used appropriately and protecting the rights of noncitizens and vulnerable populations.
Elon Musk’s findings regarding the issuance of Social Security numbers to noncitizens under the Biden administration have raised important questions about the integrity of the U.S. Social Security system. While the revelations may have been unintentional, they shine a light on systemic issues within federal programs and underscore the ongoing debate over immigration, public assistance, and the proper use of taxpayer dollars.
Musk’s investigation, which has also uncovered other fraud-related issues within the SSA, continues to challenge the government’s handling of sensitive programs.
As the conversation around immigration and public assistance evolves, the implications of Musk’s discoveries will likely resonate throughout the political landscape, further fueling the ongoing debate over how to balance the interests of U.S. citizens and noncitizens in the distribution of public resources.
