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Former U.S. President Joe Biden strongly criticized the current administration’s approach to Social Security, warning that ongoing cost-cutting measures could severely weaken the system that millions of Americans depend on.
Speaking to a packed auditorium at a national conference in Chicago, Biden voiced concern over what he described as a rapid dismantling of the Social Security Administration. While he avoided mentioning President Trump or Elon Musk by name, his message was clear.
“In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction,” Biden said. “It’s kind of breathtaking.”
Biden claimed that the administration had “taken a hatchet” to Social Security, slashing budgets and proposing staff reductions at the agency responsible for managing more than $1.6 trillion in annual benefits. The White House says these efforts are part of a broader initiative to fight fraud and improve efficiency, with Musk reportedly helping lead the overhaul.
But Biden painted a different picture—one of vulnerable Americans potentially being left behind. He emphasized that Social Security isn’t just a government program but a promise made to working people across generations.
“Social Security is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline,” he said. “It’s about dignity in retirement. It’s about disabled Americans being able to live with some security. We can’t just look at spreadsheets and cut corners.”
Reports have emerged in recent weeks of longer wait times, understaffed local offices, and technical difficulties faced by Social Security recipients.
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Biden cited these concerns as examples of what happens when deep budget cuts are prioritized over people.
Though he has remained relatively quiet since leaving office, Biden’s speech marks a return to public discourse at a time when debates around entitlement reform are gaining urgency. His remarks drew applause and visible agreement from attendees—many of them advocates for the elderly and disabled.
White House officials have not directly responded to Biden’s comments, though they continue to argue that the administration’s reforms are aimed at streamlining services and rooting out waste. Still, critics warn that too much emphasis on cost-cutting could erode the reliability and trust built into the Social Security system over decades.
Biden ended his speech with a call for renewed national commitment to protecting the program.
“We have a responsibility to strengthen it, not sabotage it,” he said. “We owe that to every American who paid into the system and who’s counting on it tomorrow.”
