Bernie Sanders sounds the alarm on Social Security changes

[Samyarup Chowdhury]

On the 90th anniversary of Social Security, Senator Bernie Sanders raised alarms over the Donald Trump administration’s handling of the program. By: MEGA

On the 90th anniversary of Social Security, Senator Bernie Sanders raised alarms over the Donald Trump administration’s handling of the program, warning that staffing cuts and office closures risk undermining a system relied upon by millions of Americans. Knewz.com has learned that the Trump administration has pushed back, insisting its goal is to strengthen Social Security by targeting waste, fraud and inefficiency — and not to dismantle the program.

Dismantling Social Security​

Sanders said that President Trump and former DOGE head Elon Musk are “working overtime to try to dismantle Social Security.” BY: MEGA

In a recently posted video message, Sanders said that President Trump and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk are “working overtime to try to dismantle Social Security and undermine the confidence that the American people have in it.” He said, “Since Trump took office, his administration has fired at least 7,000 employees at the Social Security Administration, shut down Social Security field offices and made it more difficult for seniors and the disabled to receive the benefits they have earned over the telephone.” Union data from the AFGE Social Security General Committee indicates that the Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices lost nearly 5% of their workforce from March 2024 to March 2025, with some states experiencing losses of more than 10%. Sanders also pushed back on DOGE’s assertions that benefits were being sent to deceased recipients, calling it “an unmitigated lie.” He touted new legislation to reverse staffing cuts, stop office closures and strengthen SSA’s ability to serve beneficiaries. “Our job today is to stop any and all efforts to destroy Social Security,” Sanders said.

Trump defends oversight efforts​

President Trump rejected the idea that his administration is weakening the program. BY: MEGA

President Trump rejected the idea that his administration is weakening the program. He said in a statement that he intends to “defend Social Security, rewarding the men and women who make our country prosperous, and taking care of our own workers, families, seniors, and citizens first.” He added that his administration was rooting out improper payments and targeting fraud to “save American taxpayers billions of dollars every year and ensure that future generations receive the benefits they spent their lives paying into.” An SSA spokesperson said in a statement, “As Commissioner [Frank] Bisignano has repeatedly emphasized, ensuring the long-term financial health of these trust funds remains a top priority. The Social Security Administration is committed to working with Congress and other stakeholders to protect and strengthen these vital programs.”

Political divide over the future of Social Security​

Sanders countered that the program’s core purpose must remain intact. BY: Unsplash

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, accused the Trump administration and congressional Republicans of “quietly creating problems for Social Security so they can later hand it off to their private equity buddies.” However, Musk defended his role, saying on Fox News in March, “Legitimate people, as a result of the work of DOGE, will receive more Social Security, not less.” Sanders countered that the program’s core purpose must remain intact. “In a world of complexity and uncertainty, Social Security has done exactly what its name implies. It has provided rock bottom security for our nation’s elderly and disabled.”

Social Security reaches major milestone amidst public concerns​

Social Security, established in 1935, provides retirement, survivor and disability benefits to approximately 74 million Americans. BY: Unsplash

Social Security, established in 1935, provides retirement, survivor, and disability benefits to approximately 74 million Americans, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). It is widely seen as the backbone of U.S. social insurance. However, trustees have warned that without congressional action, the program’s trust funds could face shortfalls by the 2030s. A YouGov poll in March highlighted the anxieties, as more than half of Americans said cuts would hurt their financial security, and just 13% said cuts would improve it. These concerns framed the backdrop for Senator Sanders’ warning.

The post Bernie Sanders sounds the alarm on Social Security changes appeared first on Knewz.

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