[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Social Security Administration

  Mr. President, on Social Security, yesterday, the Senate Finance 
Committee heard from Frank Bisignano, who has been nominated by Donald 
Trump to lead the Social Security Administration.
  To confirm Mr. Bisignano as the head of Social Security is like 
hiring an arsonist to run a fire station. His claim to fame is cutting 
and shrinking the companies he has been a part of.
  A ``yes'' vote on Bisignano is a vote to cut Social Security. I say 
to my Republican colleagues: If you vote yes on Bisignano, you are 
voting to cut Social Security.
  The Senate should oppose his confirmation. Mr. Bisignano would be a 
disaster because, at this very moment, in fact, because of what Trump 
has already done, the Social Security Administration is in crisis. 
Yesterday, Senate Democrats released a report detailing exactly what is 
happening now to the Social Security Administration and how Americans 
are going to suffer. Up to 60 percent of all regional offices are 
shutting down, dozens of field offices will be closed, and 7,000 
workers are being laid off--12 percent of the entire staff. Cutting 
staff means people with disabilities could be waiting up to 3 years--3 
years; disabled people who are entitled to Social Security, 3 years--to 
get their benefits. The wait time over the phones will explode. Seniors 
are already having to wait over 2 hours--sometimes longer, it is 
reported--to get someone on the phone.
  Why are they doing this? Why are Donald Trump and Elon Musk doing 
this? The goal of Trump and Musk is clear: Destroy Social Security from 
within. Make it so unworkable, so inefficient that Donald Trump has a 
pretext to cut benefits and privatize the program.
  Republicans are saying it loud and clear, and Donald Trump said it in 
his address to the joint session: This administration, the Trump-Musk 
administration, is going after Social Security. And why are they doing 
such a horrible thing? To cut taxes for billionaires like Elon Musk.
  Senate Republicans should be using their majority to protect 
Americans' benefits, not to destroy them. Senate Republicans should be 
demanding that Elon Musk reverse the firings of the 7,000 staffers, 
reopen the field offices, and restore the phone services. Senate 
Republicans haven't done any of that. It is shameful, and they are 
complicit in destroying Social Security the way Musk intends to do.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up 
to 10 minutes, followed by Senator Cruz for up to 10 minutes, prior to 
the scheduled rollcall vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.