In response to Donald Trump’s plans to gut the Social Security Administration, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Donald Trump told America that he wouldn’t touch Social Security. He lied. By mass firing the Social Security workforce and shuttering critical field offices — where more than 100,000 Americans visit in person each workday — Trump and his shadow president Elon Musk are dismantling Social Security brick by brick. Every person in this country should be alarmed right now. America’s grandparents depend on Social Security — and they deserve better than Donald Trump.”

NEW: Donald Trump and shadow president Elon Musk have moved to gut the Social Security Administration, threatening hard-earned benefits for millions of Americans amid a 50-year low on staffing.

Washington Post: “Social Security Administration leadership is under instruction to swiftly produce plans to cut its staff by half, according to two employees at the agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.”

NextGov: “Most of the Social Security Administration’s regional commissioners have decided to retire at the end of this week, following mysterious meetings with agency leaders about plans to slash its workforce.

“At least five of the eight regional commissioners whose offices oversee and support the agency’s frontline offices across the country are leaving, according to a source familiar with the agency and an SSA employee not authorized to speak on the record. …

“Their departures come amid rumors of impending staff cuts at SSA, where the workforce is already at a 50-year low and has toiled amid a customer service crisis born of lack of funding.”

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 laid out his extreme Project 2025 agenda for his second term, sharing his “concepts of a plan” to put Social Security at risk and raise costs for hardworking Americans. 

Kristen Welker: “You’ve tapped Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, to head up this department of government efficiency-”

Trump: “Correct.”

Welker: “-which proposes cuts to the federal government. I think a lot of people hear that and get concerned about Medicare and Social Security.”

Trump: “Not going to have anything to do–”

Welker: “-and defense spending. You won’t touch Medicare, Social Security–”

Trump: “We are talking about- we are talking about theft, abuse, fraud. I said, no, we’re not talking Social Security, other than we might make it more efficient, but the people will get what they get.”

Trump has a record of trying to gut Social Security every year during his first term in office and is pledging 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.”