Speaking at a disability rights event in Chicago, Biden did not name Trump outright but castigated the current administration for what he called “so much damage and destruction” in fewer than 100 days.
“Social security is a sacred promise,” he said, underscoring the financial safety net’s importance to many Americans.
Criticisms of cost-cutting
The Trump administration has moved to cut approximately 7,000 jobs—or about 10% of staff—at the Social Security Agency (SSA), as part of broader cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk has described social security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” while the administration insists it is primarily focused on rooting out fraud and blocking illegal immigrants from receiving benefits.
Trump signed an order on Tuesday prohibiting unauthorized immigrants and “other ineligible people” from obtaining social security payments. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “absolutely certain” he will continue to protect benefits for “law-abiding tax-paying American citizens and seniors.”
Rebuttals and accusations
Hours after Biden’s speech, the SSA, now headed by a Trump appointee, claimed on social media that the former president was “lying” about the impact of agency cutbacks. Democratic leaders have repeatedly warned that the administration’s efforts amount to sweeping reductions in critical social programs.
Biden, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since departing the Oval Office, did not address his departure or any plans for the 2024 presidential election. Around the same time, former President Barack Obama criticized Trump for freezing more than USD 2 billion in federal funds for Harvard University—an action Obama called “unlawful and ham-handed.”
(jh)
Source: AP News, BBC, ABC News