The media is shouting from the rafters that those mean Republicans are going to cut Social Security benefits, shut down rural hospitals, take food out of the mouths of starving Africans, and take Sesame Street off the air with their budget plan.

Take a Valium.

No. The most recent GAO report finds up to half a trillion dollars per year in fraud – and says that is likely a lowball estimate:

The federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud, according to GAO’s government-wide estimates based on data from fiscal years 2018 through 2022. Additionally, federal improper payment estimates have totaled about $2.8 trillion since FY 2003–and the actual amount may be significantly higher because this is based on a small number of programs that report these numbers. For instance, 16 agencies reported a total of about $162 billion in improper payments across 68 programs in FY 2024. Most (75%) of these improper payments were concentrated in 5 areas.

Among GAO’s recommendations:

Agencies should ensure that funds aren’t paid to ineligible beneficiaries or providers. For example, Medicaid should ensure that claims are not paid to ineligible medical providers, including those who have suspended or revoked medical licenses.

Ya think?