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:
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).
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.”
Upcoming Celebration Event
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Special Counsel in Biden Classified Documents Case Plays Amateur Gerontologist
By declining to charge President Biden but gratuitously impugning the president’s cognitive abilities, special counsel Robert Hur overstepped his bounds and fed into a blatantly ageist narrative. Hur pulled a “James Comey” yesterday in announcing that the president would not be charged with a crime but criticizing Biden’s handling of classified documents, just as Comey did with Hillary Clinton in 2016. (And we know how that turned out.) But, unlike Comey, Hur also felt the need to disparage the President’s age and his memory, referring to Biden as "a well-meaning, elderly man."
The Spending Deal & Seniors: How Do Older Americans Fare in Agreement to Keep Gov’t Open?
What's good and bad for seniors in the current spending deal on Capitol Hill? Our director of government relations and policy, Dan Adcock, tells us about how much funding crucial programs for older Americans are likely to receive for the rest of this fiscal year.
84 Years Ago Today the First Social Security Beneficiary Got Her Check
Ida Mae Fuller in 1940 The following article is reprinted from the Social Security Administration (SSA) website
NCPSSM “Tremendously Disappointed” by House Budget Committee Vote
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is tremendously disappointed in the House Budget Committee’s vote to favorably report the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 out of committee. This is the final step in the legislative process before the bill comes to the House floor for a vote. A fiscal commission is designed to give individual members of Congress political cover for cutting Americans’ earned benefits.
Congress Shouldn’t Enact “Death Panels” for Social Security & Medicare
NCPSSM sent a letter to Congress today urging representatives to reject the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023. This bill would establish a commission that would circumvent Congress’ regular order for considering Social Security and Medicare changes. The bill will be marked up in the House Budget Committee on January 18. Commissions of this kind are intended to squeeze every possible dollar of savings out of Social Security and Medicare without consideration for the adequacy of benefits.
NCPSSM Endorses Tim Kaine for Re-election to U.S. Senate
On behalf of our 28,000 members and supporters in Virginia, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare today proudly endorsed Tim Kaine for re-election to the U.S. Senate in Fredericksburg, VA on Friday. Senator Kaine has proven himself time and again as a leader on issues affecting Virginia seniors. He earns a 100% rating on our legislative scorecard for his steadfast championing of Social Security, Medicare, and lower prescription drug prices.