Former U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a fiery speech in Chicago, criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration for its sweeping changes to the Social Security Administration (SSA), warning that millions of Americans could see their benefits delayed or disrupted.
In his first major public appearance since leaving office in January, Biden accused Trump of taking a “hatchet” to the agency and warned the cuts would harm 73 million elderly and disabled Americans who depend on the $1.4 trillion program for survival. He accused the Trump administration of planning massive staff cuts, closing local offices, and exposing citizens’ private data by allowing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to internal SSA systems. He argued that the cuts are part of a broader effort to undermine the program in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy.
Trump’s administration has defended the changes as cost-cutting and fraud prevention measures, though a federal court recently halted further data sharing over privacy concerns. Critics argue that the rapid workforce reduction and tech-driven restructuring have already led to widespread technical failures and delays in services.
