Social Security: Bernie Sanders Issues Dire Warning About Elon Musk's Plan

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Mar 09, 2025 at 11:52 AM EDT | Updated Mar 09, 2025 at 1:24 PM EDT


Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democratic Party, has raised alarms over a reported plan, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to cut the Social Security Administration (SSA) staff by up to 50 percent. The senator claimed that such reductions would result in longer wait times for disability benefits and could lead to thousands of deaths. Newsweek reached out to the SSA and Musk's companies for comment via email on Sunday morning.

Why It Matters

Social Security is a vital program relied upon by millions of Americans, particularly seniors and disabled individuals. The federal agency has already experienced significant backlogs in processing disability claims, and further reductions in staff could exacerbate these delays. Musk, the world's wealthiest man, has become a key adviser to President Donald Trump. Via DOGE, the billionaire has already spurred thousands of layoffs across the federal government and is pushing for deeper cuts in staffing and spending.

What To Know

Sanders, who has long positioned himself as a champion of the working class and criticized billionaires, posted a warning to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

"Elon Musk's plan to cut the Social Security Administration's staff by 50% would cause 37,000 more Americans to die each year waiting to receive their disability benefits while the average wait time to collect these benefits would jump to 412 days.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-bernie-sanders-issues-dire-warning-about-elon-musks-plan-2041853

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Link to tweet

Bernie Sanders
@SenSanders
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Elon Musk's plan to cut the Social Security Administration's staff by 50% would cause 37,000 more Americans to die each year waiting to receive their disability benefits while the average wait time to collect these benefits would jump to 412 days.

That is beyond unacceptable.
11:01 AM · Mar 8, 2025

BLUE SKY

https://bsky.app/profile/sanders.senate.gov/post/3ljuzd6m2ik2t

[SWBTATTReg]

1. The GOP's death panels for America's seniors is fully underway, w/ tRUMP with his stooge muskrat, spearheading

efforts to poke away at our long-earned SS benefits. Continuing w/ the gop's long tradition of helping Americans by encouraging them to just shut up and die already.

[stoned]

2. Oh look. Bernie's right.

Again.

[markodochartaigh]

3. Social Security is a type of insurance.

Insurance companies try to hold off paying as long as possible. The interest on billions of payment dollars being delayed is substantial. And a certain percentage of people who have filed claims will die before their claims are paid. One more reason why putting people who are used to the private, corporate way of doing business in charge of a public program is a bad idea.

[damifino10]

4. Not to change the subject but.........

So, in all this slashing and burning, has anyone given any thought to us geezers Cost of Living calculations at the end of this year. Prices are exploding and depending on which means test they apply to the standard, man, we should get a
banner raise if they continue the path of destruction they are continueing down.
In my opinion, we have never got a correct cost of living figure for SSI recipients. One of my favorite adages, "Liars Figure and Figures Lie."

[AmericaUnderSiege]

5. Educating the American people is what Bernie does best.

I hope the GOP doesn't Paul Wellstone him.

[AZJonnie]

6. The original Nazis marked the disabled and all non-productive eaters (unless wealthy) for death as well

It's pretty much their thing

[GrannyB2025]

7. March 14 2025 shutdown

I emailed this to my representatives. Please join me.

IN the past I was against any shutdowns. But March 14 ,2025 Shutdown needs to happened!!!!! NO TAX CUTS for the RICH!!!. Balance the budget and decrease the deficit.

And it should be shouted off the roof tops why. The Republicans claim to want a balanced budget and to be concerned about the crippling deficit. That is their excuse for what D.O.G.E. is doing. And the messages " that there will be some pain but then things will improve afterwards. ". (They know they haven't been getting rid of waste but have been crippling the Government. And dismantling safety nets. )
If the poor and the middle class have to be willing to endure pain for the betterment of the economy then so should the Rich. NO TAX CUTS for the RICH!!!!!
It is impossible to balance the budget and decrease the deficit if you give the TAX breaks to the Rich and they know that.
I need my disability check , but can wait a short time during the shutdown. Americans need Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security. NO Democrat should vote for the current budget. It is better to have a Shutdown and have short term pain then to pass the horrible budget.

[radical noodle]

8. Welcome to DU!

[Hotler]

9. Welcome to DU and, everyday shoudld be a shutdown day or cut back day.

https://democraticunderground.com/10113602

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Welcome to DU