Are Donald Trump and Elon Musk putting Social Security benefits at risk?
“It’s simple: Democrats believe that you deserve access to the Social Security you paid into. But Trump’s reckless firings at the Social Security Agency puts your hard-earned benefits at risk.”
So said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., last week on X.
But what does “at risk” mean?
“Short of an act of Congress, there is not an easy way to cut Social Security benefits, particularly for retirees, since their eligibility is cut and dry,” said Dan Adcock, director of government relations and policy, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. About 6.3 million Californians get benefits.
But cutting staff could delay benefits, Adcock said. That could be devastating, he said, because an estimated 40% of recipients live payment to payment. He agreed with Padilla that benefits therefore could be at risk.
It’s impossible to know what delays could be. “We’re in uncharted territory here,” said Adcock.
White House adviser Elon Musk stirred fears about Social Security recently by saying the system is “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
He’s been leading the charge to slash staff and spending at agency after agency, and Social Security is considering laying off thousands of employees.
“We are already seeing service timelines skyrocket, but then you’re going to see intermittent interruptions of the processing and claim system. Ultimately, an interruption in benefits,” former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley told Baltimore’s WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates last week.
The White House reiterated this week it has no plans to cut anyone’s benefits.
“The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. President Trump himself has said it (over and over and over again),” the White House said in a fact sheet this week..
Risks to Social Security
Experts do worry about other risks to the system, thanks to threats President Donald Trump and Musk have been making.
Analysts see potential for declining service, making it tougher to apply for new benefits or get answers to questions due to closing lots of field offices and reducing staff.
Democrats have also been issued dire warnings about the future of the popular program. It’s good politics.
Few politicians want to fool with anyone’s Social Security benefits. Whenever that’s come up over the last 50-plus years, lawmakers quickly dismiss the idea. They still will, said Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor at Inside Elections, a nonpartisan firm that analyzes campaigns.
“Polling shows the program is still very popular and that Americans would prefer increasing the tax rather than raising the retirement age or otherwise trimming benefits,” he said.
Because Social Security payments are highly visible to beneficiaries and are sent regularly, Rubashkin said, “Changes to the program are impossible to hide unlike other areas where the Trump administration has acted.”
Besides criticizing Social Security, Musk and Trump have charged the program is riddled with fraud.
But the agency’s inspector general reported in July that Social Security paid about $8.6 trillion in benefits from 2015 to 2022 and made approximately $71.8 billion, or 0.84%, in improper payments. Most were overpayments.
What could change?
If the administration is able to cut the number of employees, it could change dramatically the level of service and perhaps cost-of-living adjustments.
“There are mechanisms through which the executive branch could influence benefits without the need for new laws,” said Shannon Benton, executive director of the nonpartisan Senior Citizens League.
It could also fight for a smaller budget or delay implementation of how the money is spent.
Such changes “could lead to delays in processing claims, issuing benefits or providing services, indirectly affecting the timely receipt of benefits,” Benton said. “A slower process could lead to financial strain for beneficiaries, particularly those who rely on timely payments.”
The administration could also issue regulations governing how programs are administered, making it more difficult for some people to qualify for benefits.
“While this wouldn’t directly reduce benefits, shifts in strategy could affect the fund’s long-term solvency, potentially leading to future pressures that could influence the amount or security of benefits,” Benton said.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Are Donald Trump and Elon Musk putting Social Security benefits at risk?."
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