Warren, Wyden Press Social Security Commissioner Nominee on Trump, Musk Efforts to Gut Agency
Ahead of hearing, lawmakers push nominee to make commitments to stop further cuts to Americans’ benefits
“We are gravely concerned about the current trajectory of the SSA and more specifically, that those charged with leading it might profit off its destruction.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Social Security Commissioner nominee Frank Bisignano ahead of his Tuesday hearing, pressing him to commit to stopping the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) ongoing efforts to hollow out the Social Security Administration (SSA) — efforts that the lawmakers warned may be a “prelude to privatization.”
The lawmakers highlighted recent reports of significant staffing cuts, office closures, and new burdensome administrative requirements on seniors who receive Social Security. At the same time, reports have also revealed that Elon Musk’s Wall Street allies have infiltrated the agency.
“These new developments leave us deeply concerned that DOGE and the Trump Administration are setting up the SSA for failure—a failure that could cut off Social Security benefits for millions of Americans—and that will then be used to justify a ‘private sector fix,’” wrote the lawmakers.
Last week, the lawmakers wrote to Bisignano with concerns about how layoffs and office closures are impacting Americans’ Social Security benefits and services. In recent days, SSA officials have only intensified their efforts to undermine the program.
One policy change will require beneficiaries who are not able to verify their identity online to do so in person. This change could force seniors and disabled individuals to travel over 100 miles to sign up for benefits, creating particular problems for vulnerable populations, including individuals with severe disabilities or illnesses. An internal memo from SSA revealed inside officials have acknowledged the policy could lead to “service disruptions.”
“Republicans have flirted with the idea of privatizing Social Security for over two decades. The latest changes at the Social Security Administration leave us worried that Elon Musk—with his clear disdain for the program that provides financial security to millions of Americans—has taken up the mantle as the latest privatization crusader,” wrote the lawmakers.
Beyond Musk planting a number of his private equity friends in various roles in the agency, Bisignano’s payment firm, Fiserv, which enables money movement for thousands of financial institutions and millions of people, could potentially also stand to benefit from SSA privatization.
The senators laid out specific commitments they expect Bisignano to make before the Committee votes on his nomination.
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