Protesters Across USA Tell Trump & Musk: “Hands off Social Security!”
From Anchorage, Alaska to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., millions of protesters turned out on Saturday for nationwide “Hands Off” demonstrations against the Trump administration’s reckless handling of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and a host of other federal programs. These protests weren’t the usual political rallies. They were deeply personal, driven by countless stories of concern about programs that Americans depend on. Whether emanating from retirees in Florida or students in Nebraska, the message was loud and clear: Don’t mess with our nation’s social insurance programs!
Martin O’Malley Makes the Case Against Trump, Musk & DOGE on Our Podcast
On Friday, April 4, our “You Earned This” podcast will feature a special guest: former Maryland Governor and Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley. It’s a conversation that everyone who cares about the future of Social Security should hear. O'Malley, who led the Social Security Administration (SSA) during the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency, brings a voice of consternation --- and determination to the national conversation. His message is clear: Social Security is under attack, and the consequences for millions of Americans couldn’t be more dire.
7 Questions for Trump’s Social Security Commissioner Nominee
President Trump’s pick to head the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, will have his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday morning. The financial services CEO and Republican donor has been waiting in the wings since the Trump administration took over in January. In the meantime, Elon Musk and his DOGE squad have invaded the Social Security Administration (SSA) and wreaked considerable havoc on the agency --- alarming seniors’ advocates and a sizeable swath of the general public. In the absence of a confirmed commissioner, Acting SSA chief Leland Dudek has abetted Musk and DOGE every step of the way, allowing them access to the sensitive personal data of 73 million Americans for no justifiable reason, radically reducing the workforce that serves Social Security customers, closing field offices, and slashing services on the agency’s 1-800 phone number that seniors rely on. He claims to be “following orders” from President Trump and Elon Musk. Dudek threatened to "shut down" SSA after a federal judge ruled against the agency's decision to grant Musk and DOGE access to beneficiaries' private data. Bisignano has no appreciable experience in public service in general --- or Social Security in particular --- but Trump wants him to run one of the federal agencies that most closely touches Americans' lives every day. We don't know much about what Bisignano thinks of Social Security or what he will do to the program if confirmed.
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Democrats Push for Strengthening Social Security in First Hearing of New Congress
The first hearing on Social Security of the new Congress saw Republicans claiming that they simply want information about the program’s status, while Democrats insisted that it’s time to boost Social Security --- and pushed back on GOP proposals to cut benefits.“ Today, we are faced with the fierce urgency of now. Five million Americans receive below-poverty level (Social Security) checks from their government because Congress has not enhanced benefits in more than 50 years,” said ranking member Rep. John Larson (D-CT).
Why GOP Medicaid Work Requirements Are Such an Awful Idea
The House Republicans' debt ceiling bill includes drastic cuts to federal programs that seniors and other vulnerable Americans rely on. But it also imposes work requirements on lower income people who receive health coverage through Medicaid. Under the GOP plan, Medicaid patients would have to work at least 80 hours per month or lose their coverage. We spoke to the National Committee's senior health policy expert, Anne Montgomery, about why this is such a harmful proposal.
Ohio Forum Focuses on Cutting Vs. Expanding Social Security
National Committee president and CEO Max Richtman brought the organization’s message of expanding and strengthening Social Security to Ohio today. He participated in a forum in Sandusky, OH, co-sponsored by the local nonprofit, Serving Our Seniors. The forum, entitled, The Future of Social Security Retirement Income and Medicare Part A forum, was attended by more than two hundred citizens, mostly seniors who are already collecting Social Security.
NCPSSM-Endorsed Candidate Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
The National Committee-endorsed candidate in the pivotal Wisconsin State Supreme Court race prevailed in yesterday’s elections. Judge Janet Protasiewicz bested her opponent, Daniel Kelly, by 10 points on Tuesday, changing the complexion of the court. Liberals will now be in the majority for the first time in some fifteen years.
Social Security is Not Going Bankrupt, But Needs to be Strengthened
In their report released on Friday, the Social Security Trustees projected that the program’s combined trust fund will remain solvent until 2034 – one year earlier than previously projected. At that time, the program still would be able to pay 80% of benefits. As of the end of 2022, the trust fund had $2.83 trillion in reserves.
Senators’ “Bipartisan” Social Security Plan Would Slash Benefits
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare has sent an urgent letter to Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Angus King (I-ME) expressing deep concern over a Social Security proposal reportedly taking shape under their names. The Cassidy-King plan would put Social Security on a slippery slope toward privatization — and ultimately cut benefits for future beneficiaries.