Press Releases

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Social Security is a promise. It’s an essential commitment to the American people, earned with every paycheck and promised to those who work hard and play by the rules. But due to Elon Musk and President Trump’s mismanagement, Social Security is at an inflection point and on a path of destruction due to experienced staff being forced out, halting of services, and closures of essential offices across the country. On top of that, this Administration has given unelected and unqualified lackeys free reign to rifle through the sensitive personal information of millions of current and future Social Security beneficiaries.

None of this makes Social Security work better for the American people. With an increase in the number of people claiming their benefits and fewer experienced SSA staffers to assist, we are hearing stories of dropped calls, longer hold times, and other delays—and the risk of late or even missed payments increases. Just this morning, I heard from AARP Massachusetts that it took seven hours for a call-back to an inquiry. The real answer for this chaos is clear: destruction is the goal because privatization has always been the ultimate golden goose.

It’s the same old story. For years, Republicans have been trying to destroy Social Security. They rinse and repeat the same gameplan: launch an attack to make the system weaker, less effective, and more difficult to navigate, softening the blow for when they sell off the scraps to Wall Street profiteers.

Mr. Bisignano, you have been tasked with enormous responsibility. As Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, it is your job to protect these benefits. I hope you might understand how vital Social Security is for millions of Americans and have the backbone to defend this program from being attacked so ruthlessly and reverse the damage caused by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to SSA. 

But, from what we’re seeing, you’ve chosen to rubberstamp the Republican plan to undermine these benefits. You must explain to this Committee, and to the American people, what exactly is happening at SSA.

Our jobs are to protect, defend, and expand Social Security for beneficiaries and generations to come. The people are watching, and they are counting on us.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time. 

###