PROVIDENCE, RI – Arbitrary mass-firings, field office closings, and deep staff cuts at the Social Security Administration (SSA) threaten the agency’s capacity to deliver for seniors and Americans with disabilities.  This week, President Trump’s hand-picked temporary SSA boss threatened to shut down the entire agency over an unfavorable court ruling.  Such an irresponsible move would jeopardize the delivery of monthly Social Security payments to millions of Americans.  Yesterday, President Trump’s billionaire Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick went on a podcast hosted by fellow billionaires and doubled down on this threat and declared his 94-year old mother-in-law wouldn’t complain if her Social Security check didn’t arrive; only “fraudsters” would miss monthly Social Security payments; and people wouldn’t mind if the U.S. government stopped sending out Social Security checks for a month.

In response, U.S. Senator Jack Reed stated:

“I hope Secretary Lutnick washes his feet frequently because he seems to stick them in his mouth quite a bit.

“Trump’s cabinet is shamefully out of touch and clearly does not care about everyday Americans.  President Trump and his billionaire golfing buddies have no use for Social Security.  Their Project 2025 manifesto makes clear their intention to eliminate America’s social safety net in order to give themselves a bigger tax break.

“Americans pay into Social Security rightfully expecting it to deliver when they need it.  Missing a check could mean missing the rent, missing a prescription, or going hungry.  These folks don’t deserve to be denigrated by the Trump Administration and lumped in with ‘fraudsters.’

“Secretary Lutnick’s message is ‘don’t complain when the payments stop or it means you’re a fraud.’  First of all, there is no reason Social Security payments should be halted.  Second, if they are, Americans have every right to complain and damn well should.  And third, if the Trump Administration follows through with threats to shut Social Security down and stop people’s payments then they will be the ones investigated for fraudulent activity and more.

“If people aren’t getting their checks on time or if they can’t get through to someone at SSA who can assist, President Trump and his team are to blame and must be held accountable.  Instead of shaming seniors, this Administration should be ashamed of itself.”

According to SSA data, over 7 million Americans 65 and older receive at least 90 percent of their income from Social Security.

Unelected billionaire Elon Musk, who heads up Trump’s so-called DOGE office claims there is “massive” fraud in the Social Security payment system and that it is an illegal “Ponzi scheme.”   Lee Dudek, who Trump named as acting commissioner of the SSA, said this week that around $100 million is lost each year in direct deposit fraud, which would make up about 0.006 percent of the total sum paid out each year.