NCPSSM, Author at NCPSSM

Bisignano’s Un-Truthy Letter to the People — or “Fact-Checking the Frankster”

The Trump administration continues to gaslight the American people about its interference in the workings of the Social Security Administration (SSA). So it's time for another fact-check. The Trump administration and DOGE savagely cut staff, closed field offices, and erected barriers for beneficiaries attempting to access their earned benefits --- as part of a phony hunt for ‘fraud’ (which, in fact, is extremely rare). Now, Commissioner Frank Bisignano is misleading the public by claiming that these actions have ‘improved’ customer service, when they have, in fact, made things significantly worse. On the 90th anniversary of Social Security in August, SSA posted an 'un-truthy' letter from Bisignano to the American people on its website. We asked our director of government relations and policy, Dan Adcock, to knock down the false claims by Trump’s Social Security commissioner:

NCPSSM2025-09-02T11:17:11-04:00September 2nd, 2025|Categories: DOGE, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump, Trump Administration|

DOGE ‘Very Badly’ Mishandles Americans’ Social Security Data

Back in February, we warned that DOGE was compromising Americans’ personal information by accessing sensitive Social Security data: “Seniors, their families, and people with disabilities most certainly cannot trust Trump and Musk with their crucial federal benefits — or their personal data.” – Max Richtman, NCPSSM President, 2/3/25 This week, our fears were confirmed. For no justifiable reason, DOGE team members uploaded the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans to “a vulnerable cloud server,” according to a whistleblower within the Social Security Administration (SSA).

NCPSSM2025-08-28T16:07:25-04:00August 28th, 2025|Categories: DOGE, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump|

Trump Marks Social Security’s 90th Anniversary by Spreading Misinformation

Social Security turned 90 this week, a milestone that should have been celebrated with reverence. However, the Trump administration marked the occasion by perpetuating misleading claims about its handling of the program. From manipulating statistics to spreading untruths about immigrants, this administration is playing a dangerous game with one of America’s most cherished federal programs. Manipulating Metrics to Rewrite Reality As our president, Max Richtman, reminds us, “We wish we could simply celebrate, but the 90-year history of Social Security shows that we must always defend the program from those who would privatize or outright eliminate it.” Richtman emphasizes, “Social Security is part of the fabric of American life and must be preserved for the future.”

NCPSSM2025-08-18T14:13:43-04:00August 15th, 2025|Categories: Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump|

Associated Press Flubs Social Security Trustees Story

We blogged earlier this week about the inaccuracy of media reports about Social Security’s financial future. Some mainstream media journalists seemed to rely on conservative tropes when covering the recent Social Security trustees report. A prime example: a news story from the Associated Press (AP) with the alarmist headline, Medicare and Social Security go-broke dates pushed up.

NCPSSM2025-06-27T11:13:58-04:00June 26th, 2025|Categories: Equal Time, Social Security|

Some of the Media Bungle Social Security Trustees Report

It’d be swell if more of the mainstream media would accurately report the financial status of Social Security. Unfortunately, much of the coverage is influenced by conservative propaganda rather than actual facts. Predictably, much of the reporting on the recently released Social Security trustees report is less journalistic than histrionic and simplistic, as a quick review of the headlines reveals:

NCPSSM2025-06-27T12:57:52-04:00June 24th, 2025|Categories: Social Security, Social Security Trustees|

Hopes that Senate Would Mitigate Medicaid & SNAP Cuts Have Been Dashed

Many who analyzed the reconciliation bill narrowly approved by the House of Representatives in a 215-214 vote on May 22nd hoped that the U.S. Senate would temper unaffordable tax cuts for the wealthy — and avoid slashing Medicaid and SNAP. Those hopes have been dashed by Senate Republicans on the Finance and Agriculture Committees, who propose to end Medicaid and SNAP as we know them – as lifelines for millions of Americans across the country who need reliable access to basic health care and food to survive.

NCPSSM2025-06-20T13:07:40-04:00June 20th, 2025|Categories: Medicaid, President Trump, Republicans, Senate|

Trump/DOGE Actions Fuel Surge in Social Security Claims

More Americans are suddenly filing for Social Security earlier than planned --- and it isn’t necessarily because they’re eager to retire. Interference in the Social Security system by Trump, Musk and DOGE has triggered a wave of public panic about the future of the program. For many, it’s created a sense of urgency to claim benefits before any other harmful changes are made. According to CBS News, early Social Security claims have surged by 17% this year compared to the same period in 2024. If this trend continues, annual filings are on track to reach 4 million. This spike comes amid the slashing of workforce and resources at the Social Security Administration under the guise of hunting for ‘waste and fraud.’

NCPSSM2025-06-06T18:13:48-04:00June 6th, 2025|Categories: Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump|

The Devastating Consequences of GOP Medicaid Cuts

House Republicans have taken another major step toward gutting the Medicaid program to pay for tax cuts largely benefitting their wealthy donors. On May 14, the GOP-controlled House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved budget legislation that slashes Medicaid funding by a jaw-dropping $717 billion over the next decade. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the Republican budget could strip health coverage from at least 13.7 million people. “Republicans are cutting them adrift, with no place else to turn for medical care except perhaps the emergency room,” says NCPSSM President Max Richtman, who labeled it “the most massive cut in Medicaid’s 60-year history.”

NCPSSM2025-05-16T23:24:03-04:00May 16th, 2025|Categories: Budget, Medicaid, Republicans|

Don’t Claim Social Security Early Because of Trump & Musk

Many Americans nearing retirement age are understandably nervous about the future of Social Security under the Trump/Musk regime. Some people are claiming benefits early to hedge their bets against potential cuts or disruptions. The number of people filing for first time benefits jumped from roughly 500,000 in March of 2024 to 580,000 this year. These early filers are right to be concerned.

NCPSSM2025-05-01T11:07:19-04:00April 29th, 2025|Categories: Delay & Gain, Social Security|

Trump Wants to Reclassify Social Security Staffers as Political Appointees

The Trump administration is again targeting the Social Security Administration (SSA) with changes that could undermine its mission. President Trump seeks to replace career civil servants at federal agencies (including SSA) with politically loyal appointees, using a classification known as “Schedule F.” This reclassification is designed to boost the president's control over career federal staffers by removing their civil service protections and making them easier to fire.

NCPSSM2025-04-24T11:00:13-04:00April 23rd, 2025|Categories: Elon Musk, President Biden, President Trump, Social Security Administration (SSA)|