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.
Jon “Bowzer” Bauman Sings the Praises of Social Security
Jon “Bowzer” Bauman is best known from the 70s tv show “Sha Na Na,” where he charmed audiences with his greaser persona, elastic expressions, and basso renditions of 1950s pop music classics --- including the band’s cover of “Goodnight, Sweetheart.” Over the years, though, Bowzer has evolved from doo wop revivalist to seniors’ activist --- especially when it comes to Social Security. He talked about his evolution from pure entertainment to entertainment and advocacy on a recent episode of the "You Earned This" podcast.
Former Social Security Official Says Musk/DOGE Caused “Trauma and Chaos” at SSA
Laura Haltzel is the first former Social Security Administration (SSA) official who was present for the Trump administration’s takeover of the agency to speak out publicly in an on the record interview. In her first interview since leaving SSA, Haltzel told Entitled to Know that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “traumatized” SSA employees — and created “gross inefficiencies” in the system. Haltzel resigned her post as Associate Commissioner Office of Research, Evaluation and Statistics on February 28, accepting an early retirement offer that the administration extended to all SSA employees.
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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.
Is is Time for Permanent Daylight Savings Time?
Should Daylight Savings Time be year-round? We, as a country, seem to ask ourselves that question every time we set the clocks ahead an hour in March. Making Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent would have enormous implications for all Americans.
White House Budget Would Boost Medicare, Help Seniors in Myriad Ways
President Biden’s bold 2024 budget proposal puts him squarely on the side of working Americans in their ongoing struggle for retirement and health security. The new White House budget would keep the Medicare Part A trust fund solvent until 2050.
Today is the Day Millionaires Stop Contributing to Social Security for 2023
Today is the day most millionaires stop paying into Social Security for the rest of the year, while most of us will continue contributing FICA payroll taxes through the end of December. The payroll tax cap for 2023 is $160,200 in annual wages. As of today, people grossing $1,000,000 a year in wages have now exceeded the cap.
People With Disabilities, Pre-Existing Conditions Are Vulnerable to Social Security & Medicare Cuts
All but the most upper-income seniors would be hurt by cuts to Social Security and Medicare --- the kind which Republicans have been proposing in the name of “entitlement reform.” But older Americans with disabilities or pre-existing conditions would be hit especially hard.
Nikki Haley’s Call for Mental Competency Tests Proves that Ageism is Alive and Well
Upon kicking off her presidential campaign this week, Nikki Haley said politicians 75 years of age or older should be subject to mental competency tests. It was a cheap political shot at President Biden and her rival in the primaries, Donald Trump. But it was more than that. Haley’s statement is blatantly ageist. Of course, of all the -isms (racism, sexism, able-ism, classism, etc.), the targeting of older people remains one of the most socially acceptable – probably leading Haley to believe that her jab at senior politicians was safe. That doesn’t make it any less offensive.