Social Security
The Trump administration this week reportedly classified thousands of immigrants living in the United States as dead in a Social Security database in an effort to force them out of the country, a scheme that was met with furious uproar from advocates and lawmakers.
By entering the names and Social Security numbers of roughly 6,000 immigrants into Social Security's "death master file," the administration has revoked their ability to legally work in the U.S. and receive benefits in a bid to get them to "self-deport," several news outlets reported Thursday.
Demonstrators thronged around the state Capitol in Hartford, filled a park in Stamford and crowded other venues in Connecticut as part of a national “Hands Off” day of action protesting President Donald J. Trump’s upending of the economy, immigration and every corner of federal government in little more than two months back in power.
Democrats have campaigned for years on claims that Republicans wouldcut Social Security. Now the Trump administration’s push to downsize the Social Security Administration hashanded them new ammunition, complicating the GOP’s efforts to steer clear of a politically popular program that some call the “third rail” of American politics.
With Social Security lumbering toward insolvency and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s eagle-eyed focus on the agency, some program proponents are worried it’s on the path to privatization.
As U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary leader of the Social Security Administration threatened to shut down the agency over an unfavorable court ruling on Friday, the billionaire commerce secretary came under fire for suggesting that only "fraudsters" will complain if they don't get their earned benefits.
Hundreds of people gathered at East Windsor High School on Wednesday evening to see a town hall appearance from U.S. Rep. John Larson (CT) regarding the future of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in Connecticut.
Larson has been questioning the budget plan from House Republicans for weeks and offered an update on his work to those in attendance on March 19.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that it is "implementing stronger identity verification procedures" to prevent fraud after a leaked memo earlier this week detailed the plans.
Newsweek has contacted the SSA for comment via email.