More Sneak Attacks on Social Security

[Celerity]

https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/social-security-trump-bisignano/



In his campaign for president, Trump promised to protect Social Security and Medicare. On paper, Social Security, which has its own revenue sources via payroll taxes and trust funds, is protected from both the budget cuts of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill and from the impact of the government shutdown. But Trump keeps trying to weaken or destroy Social Security by stealth.

The two latest examples: On Monday, the Treasury announced the appointment of Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, who is far from competent at running his own agency, to also serve as “CEO” of the IRS, a nonexistent position. Before joining the administration, Bisignano had had a number of senior posts in private finance where he was known for ruthless consolidations that cut jobs.

After being appointed Social Security commissioner by Trump, Bisignano said, according to an article in the Federal News Network: “I don’t think the commissioner of Social Security is like a globally known title. It is to you, right? But, like, it wasn’t to me. I’m like, ‘Well, what am I gonna do?’ So I’m Googling ‘Social Security.’ That’s one of my great skills, I’m one of the great Googlers on the East Coast.... I’m like, ‘What the heck’s the commissioner of Social Security?’”

Also this past week came leaks from the administration that age will no longer be taken into account in determining whether someone is eligible for disability. This could disqualify some 750,000 applicants over the next decade, according to. Jack Smalligan of the Urban Institute, a former Office of Management and Budget official through five administrations.

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