President Donald Trump says Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force could help strengthen Social Security and even move the federal government closer to balancing the budget.
Speaking during a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump said the task force has uncovered major fraud and waste across federal programs.
He argued that those findings could help protect Social Security without cutting benefits or making major changes to the program.
“I think we have a chance to save Social Security without doing anything to it,” Trump said.
TRENDING TODAY
Trump said his administration is committed to protecting seniors and strengthening the program.
He claimed the task force has identified billions of dollars in fraud and suggested that if the effort continues successfully, it could help reduce deficits.
“If it does really great, we’ll have a balanced budget without having to do anything,” Trump said.
The comments come as Social Security faces long-term financial pressure.
Current projections warn that the program’s trust funds could become depleted in the early 2030s, which would trigger automatic benefit reductions unless Congress acts.
Social Security is funded mainly through payroll taxes paid by workers and employers.
Trump said fraud within the system is one reason the program is under pressure.
He pointed to cases of extremely old individuals allegedly still receiving benefits, saying the administration is reviewing suspicious payments.
Vice President Vance said the task force has been able to make progress because of direct presidential leadership.
He said federal agencies often struggle to coordinate across departments, and the task force is meant to force better cooperation.
Vance was tapped to lead the anti-fraud initiative in March.
The administration has described the effort as a whole-of-government push to identify improper payments, stop fraud and protect taxpayer money.
Officials have also argued that some entitlement fraud has benefited illegal immigrants, though broader claims about fraud levels remain politically contested.
Trump’s comments are likely to draw support from Republicans who argue fraud reduction should be a top priority before any discussion of tax hikes or benefit cuts.
Democrats are likely to argue that fraud recovery alone cannot solve Social Security’s long-term funding challenges.
The debate now centers on whether the task force can produce enough verified savings to meaningfully affect federal spending.
For Trump, the message is clear: his administration says it can protect Social Security by targeting fraud rather than cutting benefits.
Why It Matters
Social Security is one of the most politically sensitive programs in the federal budget. Trump’s claim gives Republicans a new argument: that fraud reduction, not benefit cuts, can help protect the program. But the scale of actual recoverable fraud will determine whether the task force can make a meaningful difference.
What Comes Next
The Vance-led task force is expected to continue reviewing federal payment systems, entitlement programs and agency data. Congress may press the administration for detailed numbers showing how much fraud has actually been confirmed, recovered or prevented.
Trump pointed to alleged fraudulent Social Security payments as he argued that the Vance-led task force could help protect the program without cutting benefits.
NOW: VP Vance praises President Trump’s leadership for helping the fraud task force break down barriers, go after fraudsters, and save Americans money.
PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPOSES HE REMOVED PEOPLE AS OLD AS 125 YEARS OLD FROM RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS
DONALD TRUMP: “Just the numbers of fraudulent people on Social Security, people that are 115 years old, 125 years old, getting payments. It’s funny, I said, ‘Oh, do those… https://t.co/WCLiykP2kA pic.twitter.com/MpAWMM4zN0
— Zach Jones – Secretary of Psyops (@ZachJones1994) May 28, 2026
