Demand Progress

For 90 years, Social Security has paid benefits in full and on time. Until now.

Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE slashed the Social Security Administration (SSA) staff by 7,000 people and tried to cover up the disastrous impact on millions of beneficiaries.¹ “Trump’s cuts to the Social Security Administration could not come at a worse time,” said Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee.²

Even worse, Trump’s disastrous budget included a “backdoor” for Trump to privatize Social Security.³ The law, which gives massive tax breaks to billionaires and slashes Medicaid, will also accelerate the insolvency of Social Security.⁴

Despite Trump’s claims that he wouldn’t cut Social Security, it’s clear that the White House is taking steps to destroy the benefits program. Our lawmakers must rally behind nine decades of delivering for seniors and people with disabilities, and fight to save the Social Security Administration.

Sign the petition: Save Social Security from Trump’s cuts. Don’t let the White House privatize and destroy Social Security!

Recently, the Trump administration isn’t even trying to hide its insidious plans for one of the most popular public benefits programs in the country. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent openly admitted that Trump’s big budget includes a “backdoor way for privatizing Social Security.”⁵

The existential threat to Social Security has grown ever-more serious under Trump 2.0. Republicans have taken a buzzsaw to Medicaid, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, veteran’s health care, funding for cancer research, and so much more. These attacks on Social Security are real, and urgent.

“Republicans' ultimate goal is to privatize Social Security, and there isn't a backdoor they won't try to make Wall Street's dream a reality,” said the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Richard Neal.⁶

Social Security provides tens of millions of seniors and people with disabilities with economic security and the ability to live with dignity. Our lawmakers can’t allow the Trump administration to take this critical program away from so many people.

Sign the petition: Block Trump’s scheme to destroy Social Security!

Sources:

1. Common Dreams, "Dems Denounce Trump Official for Hiding Social Security Service Metrics,” July 14, 2025.
2. U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, "Wyden Leads Bill to Reverse Trump Cuts at Social Security and Protect Benefits,” August 13, 2025.
3. Common Dreams, "Bessent Admits Trump Tax Scam Offers 'Backdoor for Privatizing Social Security',” July 30, 2025.
4. ABC News, "Social Security's 90th anniversary marked by funding threats and privatization talk,” August 14, 2025.
5. Common Dreams, "Bessent Admits Trump Tax Scam Offers 'Backdoor for Privatizing Social Security',” July 30, 2025.
6. Ibid.