Former US President Joe Biden has launched a scathing critique of the Trump administration’s handling of welfare programs, accusing it of dismantling the nation’s longstanding Social Security system in a speech delivered Tuesday in Chicago.
Speaking at a disability rights conference, Biden warned that the government had “taken a hatchet” to Social Security, criticizing recent efforts by the White House to downsize the agency responsible for administering the $1.6 trillion annual benefits program.
“In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking,” Biden said, without explicitly naming former President Donald Trump. However, his message was unmistakable as he called Social Security a “sacred promise” and emphasized its impact on millions of lives.
The Social Security Administration (SSA), which supports over 67 million Americans—mainly retirees and individuals with disabilities—has come under increased pressure in recent months. Since February, Elon Musk, who leads the administration’s cost-cutting “Department of Government Efficiency,” has pushed plans to slash 7,000 jobs from the agency’s workforce. Musk has previously labelled Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
While Trump has insisted, he aims to eliminate fraud and unauthorized payments—especially to illegal immigrants—he has denied plans to make sweeping cuts to core benefits. “He will always protect that program,” his press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “He is absolutely certain about protecting benefits for law-abiding tax-paying American citizens and seniors.”
Biden, who did not address his exit from the White House or make any remarks about the 2024 election, focused instead on defending the integrity and necessity of Social Security. “We know just how much Social Security matters to people’s lives,” he said.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the SSA, now led by a Trump-appointed director, accused Biden of spreading misinformation. “Biden has been lying,” the agency stated, responding directly to his speech.
Democrats have increasingly accused the Trump administration of initiating a backdoor dismantling of the nation’s welfare safety net through staffing cuts and inflammatory rhetoric. Critics warn that the reduction in personnel may significantly impact the agency’s ability to process claims and support beneficiaries.
Chioma Kalu
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