SENIORS BACK DOGE: Conservative Alternative to AARP Members Embrace Cutting Waste and Abuse

Democrats warn that the Department of Government Efficiency may threaten seniors’ benefits, but members of the conservative alternative to AARP express great confidence in DOGE and its cost-cutting measures.

The Association of Mature American Citizens polled its members on the program, and the response was deafening.

A whopping 76% of AMAC members said DOGE should expand its efforts, while another 18% said they support DOGE but believe the agency should move carefully. Less than 1% of them said DOGE is “too aggressive.”

“They absolutely trust DOGE,” AMAC CEO Rebecca Weber told “The Daily Signal Podcast.”

She noted that AMAC members selected President Donald Trump as “man of the year,” but Elon Musk, who started the DOGE effort with Trump, came in second.

“What we’re really witnessing now from Democrats and many in the establishment media is an intentional effort to cause chaos and confusion — this is what they do — about what DOGE and the Trump administration are doing,” Weber said. “We know that DOGE and the Trump admin are going after fraud and abuse. That’s what they’re doing. They’re going after fraud and abuse in the Social Security system. And that’s it.”

“So, while Democrats are going to claim that this is threatening seniors’ benefits, that’s simply not the case,” she argued. “It’s the entire opposite.”

Weber also noted the Democrats’ fears that DOGE staff will access confidential information as they seek to identify waste and abuse.

“AMAC members said, ‘I trust Elon Musk and Donald Trump over some faceless bureaucrat who currently has my information. At least I know that they’re looking to stop improper payments and to protect benefits that so many American seniors have worked decades to earn,'” she said.

AMAC Polls

AMAC started as a conservative alternative to the American Association of Retired Persons, better known as AARP. While AMAC aims to represent American seniors and has special benefits for the elderly, American adults of any age can join.

AMAC polled its members on DOGE.

“The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently exposed [the U.S. Agency for International Development’s] wasteful spending, leading to discussions about the future of the agency. Which option below best reflects your view on DOGE’s work?” the organization asked.

The vast majority (33,839 or 76% of respondents) selected, “They’re off to a great start and should expand their efforts to other government departments.”

Another 18% (7,997) selected, “I support DOGE’s mission but believe they should proceed carefully to avoid unintended consequences.”

A smaller minority (1,756 votes or 4%) said, “more transparency is needed to ensure their findings aren’t politically motivated.”

Less than 1% (243 votes) selected, “Government waste should be addressed, but USAID plays a critical role in global aid and shouldn’t be dismantled.” Another small minority (313 votes and less than 1%) said, “DOGE’s approach is too aggressive—reducing waste is important, but not at the cost of America’s humanitarian commitments.”

These polls represent only AMAC members, not all seniors, and were conducted online. Nonetheless, they demonstrate strong support for DOGE.

The DOGE Dividend

AMAC also polled its members about the “DOGE dividend,” the idea that Americans might receive back some of the money DOGE saves in the federal budget.

“President Trump is reportedly considering returning a portion of the savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to American taxpayers as a refund check. Which of the following options best matches your thoughts on this idea?” the organization asked members.

About half of respondents (19,051 votes or 48%) agreed with the statement, “With America nearly $37 trillion in debt, we’re broke as a nation. I would like to see every penny saved by DOGE go to reducing our national debt.”

Another 21% (8,459 votes) selected, “I would forego a refund check so critical programs like Social Security and Medicare can be made solvent with the savings identified by DOGE.”

About a third of respondents either said they would “gladly accept a refund check as a repayment for all the government waste, fraud, and abuse” (5,142 votes or 13%) or that they would support “receiving a one-time $5,000 refund plus an equivalent tax reduction for every taxpayer in perpetuity” (6,909 votes or 17%).

“This is so urgently important because we know that the Social Security trust fund is going to go insolvent, eventually, unless things change,” Weber said. “Looking at the fraud and the abuse is an important place to start.”

She noted that AMAC members “understand the original intent of the Social Security program, and that was an anti-poverty program to keep seniors out of poverty.”

These polls do not represent all seniors, but they do reveal that many conservative seniors stand with DOGE and trust that rooting out waste and abuse will help, rather than harm, the benefits so many elderly Americans rely upon.

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