Rep. McBride Fights Back Against Trump-Musk Assault on Social Security
Wilmington, DE — In the face of growing threats to Social Security from the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Delaware’s Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) is taking decisive action to protect benefits for the 241,000 Delawareans who rely on the program each month.
Rep. McBride has signed onto multiple efforts in Congress, including a letter demanding that the Acting Social Security Commissioner halt plans to slash the Social Security workforce and shutter field offices, as well as a March letter to Speaker Mike Johnson calling on House Republicans to reject any attempts to cut or limit Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.
“Let’s be clear: gutting customer service at the Social Security Administration is a backdoor benefit cut,” said Rep. McBride. “When seniors can’t reach a caseworker, when families lose access to their local field office, or when backlogs delay life-saving benefits—that’s not theoretical. That’s real harm to real people. I won’t stand by while this administration jeopardizes the dignity and economic stability of Delawareans who’ve earned these benefits through a lifetime of work.”
Trump’s handpicked Acting Commissioner of Social Security has already announced plans to reduce SSA staffing by nearly 7,000 positions, with more cuts expected. Reports show that over 40 field offices are facing the loss of more than a quarter of their staff, leading to longer lines, slower processing, and increased delays. A CBS News investigation recently revealed widespread website crashes and processing errors, leaving many unable to access benefits at all.
In Delaware, more than 241,000 residents rely on Social Security, receiving a total of $475 million in monthly benefits, including:
- 190,772 retirees
- 23,852 disabled workers
- 11,317 widows and 4,218 spouses
- 11,295 children
“Social Security is a promise after a lifetime of hard work. And that promise is under threat,” McBridecontinued. “The Trump-Musk plan to dismantle this program to pay for tax cuts for billionaires is not only cruel—it’s deeply out of step with the values of Delawareans.”
Trump and Musk have also launched a misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Social Security. Musk has called the program “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” while Trump has falsely referred to its benefits database as “a scam.” Meanwhile, their DOGE appointees have been granted unprecedented access to sensitive beneficiary data, prompting privacy concerns and the resignation of senior SSA leadership.
Rep. McBride is supporting key House Democratic legislation, including the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act (H.R. 1876), which would block the Trump Administration from closing any Social Security field or hearing offices, and the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act (H.R. 1877), which would prohibit political appointees like Musk’s DOGE operatives from accessing sensitive beneficiary data and strengthen data privacy protections.
“House Democrats are united in this fight,” said McBride. “We’re not just going to protect Social Security—we’re going to strengthen it. That means expanding benefits, improving service, and making sure this program continues to work for the next generation.”
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