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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Why We Endorsed Kamala Harris for President of the United States
“The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare proudly endorses Kamala Harris for President of the United States. As Vice President, she has championed President Biden’s policies on behalf of older Americans --- including strengthening Social Security and Medicare and lowering prescription drug prices for seniors. She has been in lockstep with the President in his pledge to protect Americans’ earned benefits against Republican proposals to cut and privatize them --- including Donald Trump.
Harris Likely to Sustain Biden’s Social Security, Medicare, Rx Drug Policies
As we have noted many times, the President has fought especially hard for American seniors --- by lowering prescription drug prices, strengthening Medicare, and advocating improvements to Social Security --- which is why he earned our endorsement in June. His heir apparent, Vice President Harris, has been in lockstep with President Biden on these crucial issues.
What Does Project 2025 Bode for Older Americans? Hint: Nothing Good
The right-wing Heritage Foundation produced Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump term. Though Project 2025 doesn’t specifically advocate for cuts to Social Security, the right-wing think tank has taken positions that would seriously undermine the nation’s most popular social insurance program. On the issue of Medicare and prescription drug prices, however, Project 2025 explicitly calls for changes that could be devastating for seniors. We chatted with our senior legislative representative, Maria Freese, about the implications of Project 2025 for older Americans.
Our Debate Takeaway: Trump’s Lies Undermine Seniors’ Earned Benefits
As seniors’ advocates, it is not our job to parse Joe Biden’s debate performance. It’s our job to tell Americans in straight talk who is telling the truth about Social Security and Medicare — and who will protect them as president. In last night’s debate, Donald Trump repeatedly spread disinformation about seniors’ earned benefits, while President Biden’s statements were consistent with the truth — and with his record in office of defending both programs.
House Budget Cmte. Holds Hearing on Social Security Trustees Report
Ranking Committee Member Brendan Boyle (D-PA) Republicans and Democrats clearly had different takeaways from the recent Social
National Committee Backs Biden; Campaign Launches Seniors For Biden-Harris
For only the second time in our history, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is endorsing a candidate for President of the United States. And for the second time, that candidate is Joe Biden. NCPSSM broke precedent in 2020 because we believed Joe Biden would fight for America’s seniors --- and protect Social Security and Medicare. We did not trust Donald Trump to safeguard either program or to uphold other cherished American institutions. Four years later, those beliefs have been validated beyond dispute.