In response to Senate Republicans confirming Frank Bisignano’s nomination to lead the Social Security Administration, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Republicans just handed over the future of Americans’ Social Security to Frank Bisignano, a Wall Street stooge and self-proclaimed ‘DOGE person’ who wants to help Donald Trump and his shadow president Elon Musk gut the program. In a little over 100 days, Trump’s administration has already shuttered field offices and put benefits for 73 million Americans at risk — including seniors who have spent their whole lives paying into Social Security. Just like Trump and Musk, Bisignano will gladly put Social Security on the chopping block to line the pockets of billionaires and special interests.” 

NEW: Senate Republicans confirmed self-proclaimed “DOGE person” Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration, after he dodged questions on protecting Americans’ hard-earned benefits during his disastrous confirmation hearing. 

Senate Press Gallery: “By a vote of 53-47, the #Senate confirmed the nomination of Frank Bisignano to be Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Party line vote.”  

Sen. Bernie Sanders: “Why do you think the Social Security Administration is now closing down offices and laying off 7,000 employees? … Do you think it makes sense to lay off half the staff?” … 

Frank Bisignano: *Dodges*

Sen. Sanders: “When you have a system that is not working out, do you think it’s a great idea to lay off half the employees?” …

Bisignano: “Probably no.”

Sen. Ron Wyden: “Will you lock DOGE out of Social Security databases?”

Bisignano: *Refuses to answer*

Sen. Wyden: “I would like that in writing that you will lock DOGE out of the Social Security databases.” … 

Bisignano: “I don’t know what ‘lock DOGE out of the Social Security’…”

Sen. Wyden: “Stop them. It’s got a pretty simple concept when you lock somebody out. You stop them.”

Associated Press: “Frank Bisignano, a self-professed ‘DOGE person,’ was called to account for recent upheaval at the Social Security Administration, which provides benefits to roughly 72.5 million people, including retirees and children.”

Shadow President Elon Musk and Donald Trump are breaking down Social Security brick by brick and throwing the program into chaos, risking hard-earned benefits for 73 million Americans and hitting rural folks especially hard. 

Axios: “[M]any Americans will no longer be able to apply for Social Security benefits over the phone, setting the stage for disruptions and upheaval for millions of seniors. … 

“The abrupt change, implemented at breakneck speed at White House request, increases the likelihood that some eligible people will miss out on benefits; others could simply not get them at all. … 

“More than 4 in 10 retirees apply for benefits by phone, per agency data cited by the Center. … 

“Nearly 6 million seniors live more than 46.6 miles, roundtrip, from a field office, per the analysis of agency and Census Bureau data. …

“Those in rural areas face the longest journeys … 

“There is no way right now to apply for Social Security survivors’ benefits online. That means ‘grieving family members must visit offices soon after the deaths of their loved ones to apply,’ CBPP points out in their analysis.”

Axios: “The draft of the memo viewed by Axios says the proposed limitations [on phone access] will be ‘significant’ for those living in rural areas in particular.” 

Washington Post: “Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down”

“The turmoil is leaving many retirees, disabled claimants and legal immigrants who need Social Security cards with less access or shut out of the system altogether, according to those familiar with the problems.”

NPR: “The Social Security Administration (SSA) has laid out plans to slash about 12% of its overall workforce, or 7,000 jobs. …

“SSA workers and advocates for older and disabled Americans say these staff cuts — as well as controversial agency moves under Dudek’s leadership — amount to a cut to services.

“‘The cut to the program is the deterioration of staff,’ LaPointe said. ‘That is the backdoor cut to the program because benefits delayed are benefits denied.’”

Business Insider: “Social Security is telling its staff that customer service is about to get a lot worse” 

“Lines at your local Social Security office are about to get a lot longer — if it survives a wave of closures brought on by funding cuts under the Trump administration.”

Prospect: “The decision could target one of the government’s most prominent public-facing initiatives: SSA field offices, where seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors whose parents have died can sign up for benefits and get information.”

REMINDER: Trump has a record of trying to gut Social Security every year during his first term in office and pledged cuts in a second term. 

Washington Post: “Trump proposals could drain Social Security in 6 years, budget group says”

Washington Post: “His avowed stance, however, is at odds with Trump’s own record as president: Each of his White House budget proposals included cuts to Social Security and Medicare programs.”

Vox: “Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. His 2020 budget cuts all 3.”

National Review: “Speaking with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked whether he would cut entitlements at some point. ‘Will entitlements ever be on your plate?’ asked interviewer Joe Kernen. ‘At some point they will be,’ Trump responded. ‘At the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that’s the easiest of all things [to cut].’”

Mediaite: “During a Fox News town hall, President Donald Trump promised to cut entitlements like Medicare and Social Security if he were to win a second term. … ‘But if you don’t cut something in entitlements, you will never really deal with the debt,’ town hall co-moderator Martha MacCallum interjected, alluding to social safety programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. ‘Oh, we’ll be cutting,’ Trump rushed to confirm.”

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