Biden calls out Trump and Republicans for cuts to Social Security
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Former President Biden speaks at a conference hosted by the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) on Tuesday in Chicago. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Former President Biden stopped short of mentioning his successor by name at a speech Tuesday in Chicago but took aim at the Trump administration's threats to cut Social Security.
The big picture: Biden spoke at the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) on the same day Democrats declared the Save Social Security National Day of Action.
The latest: Biden's rebuke against the administration came as Democrats have launched digital ads attacking Republicans over the administration's threats to Social Security, such as President Trump's order to cease payments by paper check.
Why it matters: The former president told the roomful of disability advocates that he left the Social Security Administration fully staffed and dedicated to customer service, but accused the Trump administration of "wreck[ing] it so they can rob it."
The other side: Trump has repeatedly said he's not cutting Social Security, but any cuts are meant to address "improper payments" and wasteful spending.
Zoom in: In his characteristically soft-spoken speech, punctuated with punchy one-liners and personal histories of growing up working class in Pennsylvania and Delaware, Biden pushed back on the current administration's claims that the agency is riddled with fraud and bloated overstaffing.
What they're saying: "You gotta ask yourself, 'Why is this happening? Why are these guys taking aim at Social Security now?'" Biden said.
- "Well, they're following that old line from tech startups. The quote is, 'Move fast. Break things.' They're certainly breaking things. They're shooting first and aiming later. As a result, there is a lot of needless pain and sleepless nights," he added.
- "73 million Americans receive Social Security from their first paycheck for their entire life, they pay into Social Security. In return they count on Social Security is going to be there for them when they're gonna need it."
Zoom out: Trump on Tuesday signed a memo aimed at curtailing Social Security fraud, despite ample evidence against widespread improper payments.
- Former SSA commissioner Martin O'Malley, who introduced Biden at Tuesday's conference, pushed back on the Trump administration's claims of fraud by saying that "every inspector general for the last 30 years has concluded that the level of fraud in Social Security is actually less than one half of 1%."
- The administration backed off a recent threat to cut off phone service for Social Security services after an outcry from groups like AARP said the change would create confusion and cut off access to benefits.
Go deeper: Social Security is now an immigration enforcement tool
