John,

In his address before a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump repeated lies about Social Security, meant to undermine confidence in this critical program.¹

He claimed―as DOGE Director Elon Musk previously stated―that Social Security is rife with fraud, demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of how Social Security’s rolls are maintained.²

But now Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency aren’t just spreading lies, they’re actively terminating people’s earned benefits while deteriorating service.

A 66 year-old from Oklahoma City saw his benefits terminated without explanation.³ And an 82 year-old from Seattle was deemed dead by Social Security (he’s still very much alive).⁴

Trump is allowing Musk to cut staff from the Social Security Administration, shutter Social Security field offices, and no longer allow people to apply for or adjust benefits by phone. They will require older Americans and people with disabilities to go online or go to an office to access their benefits even as 61% of seniors don’t have broadband service in their homes, and reduced staff and closed offices mean very long waits for in-person appointments.⁵ People are now facing longer wait times on SSA’s 1-800 number. Getting through by phone is the first step to getting an in-person appointment, and the appointment is likely to be more than a month away. It’s urgent that we improve services, not dismantle them.

Thousands of people die each year waiting for disability benefits⁶ and millions of Americans now face real barriers to accessing their earned benefits after paying in over their entire working lives.

And, the Social Security Administration is a central hub for Americans’ most sensitive personal and financial information―with a federal judge noting the Social Security Administration likely violated privacy laws by giving Elon Musk's aides “unbridled access” to our data.⁷

We need to push back against this administration’s gutting of the Social Security Administration. In Congress, Rep. John Larson (D-CT) has introduced critical legislation to save Social Security from Elon Musk’s attacks.

Click here to write to your members of Congress now to demand they pass Rep. Larson’s suite of bills to get Elon Musk and his DOGE Bros out of Social Security and protect this vital institution from immediate threats.

Here’s a look at Rep. Larson’s legislative package:

• The Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act will put a moratorium on the closure of Social Security field offices for the rest of the Trump administration.

• The Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act will block Elon Musk and his cronies’ access to sensitive beneficiary data and strengthen oversight and civil penalties for any privacy and disclosure violations of Social Security beneficiaries’ personal information.

• The Resolution of Inquiry would compel President Trump to disclose to Congress information about DOGE activity at SSA and any plans to close field offices or cut staff.

The Trump administration is demonstrating how it is capable of cutting off recipients from their earned Social Security benefits without a single act of Congress.

Take action now and demand Congress fight back against attacks on Social Security.

In the words of FDR, "no damn politician can ever scrap my social security program."⁸

Thank you for taking action today,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ Larson: Trump’s Blatant Lies About Social Security Must Not Go Unanswered
² Former head of Social Security says Elon Musk and DOGE are wrong about the agency
³ Oklahoma City man says social security benefits terminated without warning or explanation
⁴ Here’s a ‘dead’ person on Social Security in Seattle, with plenty to say
⁵ Long waits, waves of calls, web crashes: Social Security is breaking down
⁶ Tens of thousands are dying on the disability wait list
⁷ Judge stops Musk's team from 'unbridled access' to Social Security private data
⁸ Research Notes & Special Studies by the Historian's Office