Social Security
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.
Democrats rallied outside the state Capitol in Hartford on Tuesday in a coordinated national “day of action” aimed at heading off what they say are inevitable cuts to Medicaid as the Trump administration and Republicans move to extend provisions of the 2017 tax cut law.
The White House insists that Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are off limits, but the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office concluded that $880 billion in spending cuts sought by House Republicans are impossible without deep cuts to the social safety net.
In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures — which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone.