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Has Donald Trump Cut Social Security Funding? What We Know [1]

['Natalie Venegas', 'J. Michael Bailey', 'Kevin Bolling']

Date: 2025-02-10 16:58:51-05:00

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Democratic lawmakers at a rally on Monday raised concerns over potential Social Security funding cuts, despite President Donald Trump often saying he will not target and will "only strengthen" the benefits.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House and the Treasury Department via email and Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks via online email form for comment.

Why It Matters

Social Security has long been considered the "third rail" of American politics—universally popular among voters and potentially politically perilous for lawmakers. But some sort of reform will be necessary to prevent the program from insolvency as it's expected to run out of money by 2035, according to a Bloomberg report.

The rally by Democratic lawmakers comes as Trump continues to target government spending with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) looking to recommend widespread cuts to federal agencies in what they say is an effort to save taxpayers money and end bureaucracy.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on February 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on February 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

What To Know

Holding a "Hands off our Social Security" rally outside the Social Security Administration headquarters near Baltimore, Maryland's Democratic Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen protested against any possible cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from Trump and DOGE.

During the rally, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks and Democratic Representatives Kweisi Mfume, Johnny Olszewski and Sarah Elfreth called for the protection of Social Security benefits.

"Does cutting Medicare lower the cost of eggs? I don't think so. How does slashing funding at the Social Security Administration cut the cost of gas? And how does Elon Musk having access to Social Security, lower the cost of prescriptions? It doesn't," Alsobrooks said.

Alsobrooks' remarks come after New York Federal Judge Paul A. Engelmayer imposed a temporary restraining order on February 8 preventing the Treasury Department from sharing financial information about millions of Americans with Trump's cost-cutting DOGE.

The judge was ruling at the request of New York Attorney General Letitia James, a frequent Trump adversary, and attorneys general for 18 other states who say that DOGE has no right to access the information.

Engelmayer ordered DOGE to immediately destroy any copies of records it had already obtained.

The Treasury Department and Trump have since opposed the restraining order.

Has Trump Cut Social Security Funds?

DOGE's previous access to the Treasury Department's payment system has led to critics expressing concerns about potential cuts to personnel and to Social Security benefits.

Trump has pushed back on the narrative that the popular benefits will be slashed, saying when asked if there are limits on what Musk can examine, "Social Security will not be touched, it will only be strengthened."

The president's statement has been in line with campaign promises he previously made about Social Security, as he had said he won't "cut one cent" from Social Security or raise Americans' retirement age.

Trump has not made any official cuts to Social Security since taking office, but amid his administration's attempted overhaul of government agencies and spending, the Social Security Administration could face personnel losses in terms of layoffs or administrative funding without cuts directly to Social Security payments.

What People Are Saying

Mfume said on Monday during the rally: "Every time you hear DOGE—'the Department of Government Efficiency'—you just remember, it is the department of government evil!"

Alsobrooks said during the rally: "In his wicked hunt for vengeance, this president has decided that no target is too small, no family is too vulnerable, and no American is out of bounds."

Martin O'Malley, the former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration said on Monday: "This is not about efficiency. This is about two things. This is about stealing the personal data of Americans. And it is about taking a lifetime of earned benefits, your Social Security benefits, and turning it into a bitcoin bank."

What Happens Next

As proposed cuts and overhauls face legal challenges, it remains to be seen whether Trump's comments promising to protect Social Security will come into conflict with Musk's stated goal of cutting federal government spending by up to $2 trillion per year.

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[1] Url: https://www.newsweek.com/did-donald-trump-cut-socail-security-funding-what-we-know-2029073

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