Ex-President Biden criticizes Trump
In a significant turn of events, former U.S. President Joe Biden has accused his successor, Donald Trump, of attempting to dismantle the Social Security Administration. This accusation comes as the new administration, under President Trump, has initiated changes within the agency.
Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, who took over from Biden but ultimately lost to Trump in the election, delivered her first major speech since leaving the White House in Chicago. In this speech, she focused on the importance of Social Security, stating that the program is more than just a government program, it's a sacred promise made as a nation.
The new administration has been under scrutiny for its plans regarding Social Security. Reports suggest that since February, members of the DOGE efficiency board, backed by tech billionaire Elon Musk, have been looking for ways to cut costs in the Social Security Administration. However, no information from the search results links the "DOGE efficiency board" or Elon Musk directly to Social Security plans or impacts under the Trump administration.
Despite these cost-cutting measures, the new administration has already laid off 7,000 employees from the Social Security Administration. This move has led to issues with the Social Security Administration's website, causing it to crash, making it difficult for people to apply online.
The administration has, however, made strides in improving benefit delivery. It implemented the Social Security Fairness Act early in 2025, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which historically reduced benefits for many public servants. The administration also delivered over 3.1 million updated and retroactive payments to beneficiaries five months ahead of schedule, totaling more than $17 billion.
President Trump has promoted efforts to enhance retirement security through diversified investments. He signed an Executive Order allowing 401(k) investors to access alternative assets, aiming to increase investment choices and potentially strengthen retirement outcomes.
However, the staff cuts and office closures have raised concerns about accessibility to benefits, particularly among people of color who rely more heavily on these benefits. There is also concern that privatization efforts via new investment accounts could undermine the social insurance nature of Social Security. The Social Security trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2034, which would lead to an automatic 19% benefit cut if Congress does not act, underscoring the urgency of policy decisions.
Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that President Trump is committed to protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding, tax-paying American citizens and seniors who have contributed to the program. During his campaign, Trump had promised not to touch these benefits. However, his administration's current plans regarding Social Security involve reducing agency capacity, pushing privatization-style investment options, and promptly rolling out payment reforms, with mixed implications for benefit access and program sustainability.
Some Democrats have expressed concerns about Biden's speech, suggesting it could distract from political and economic criticism of Trump. The layoffs and resulting issues with the Social Security Administration's website have further fuelled these concerns. The Social Security Administration pays out $1.4 trillion in benefits to 73 million older and disabled Americans each year, making its smooth operation crucial for millions of Americans.
[1] Source for Trump administration's plans and their impact: [URL] [2] Source for the Social Security Fairness Act and payments: [URL] [3] Source for Trump's efforts to enhance retirement security: [URL] [4] Source for the impact on people of color: [URL]
- The Trump administration's policy-and-legislation regarding Social Security has been met with concerns from various quarters, especially since it involves other measures such as reducing agency capacity, pushing privatization-style investment options, and swiftly implementing payment reforms.
- While President Trump claims to protect Social Security benefits for law-abiding, tax-paying citizens, his actions, like the war-and-conflicts within his administration's Social Security plans, have raised questions about their long-term impact, particularly on general-news issues like accessibility and program sustainability.
- Crimes-and-justice surrounding Social Security have also garnered attention, with the administration's cost-cutting measures, such as the layoff of 7,000 employees, leading to a website crash and potential difficulties for people to apply online, disproportionately affecting certain groups, such as people of color who rely more heavily on these benefits.
