Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging His Republican Colleagues To Vote Against The Nomination Of Frank Bisignano To Lead The Social Security Administration

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor urging Republican colleagues to vote against the nomination of Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee heard from Frank Bisignano, 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 that he’s been a part of.

A yes vote on Bisignano is a vote to cut Social Security. I say to my Republican colleagues, 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 right now to the Social Security Administration, and how Americans are going to suffer.

Up to 60% of all regional offices are shutting down. Dozens of field offices will be closed.  

Seven thousand workers are being laid off, 12% of the entire staff. Cutting staff means people with disabilities could be waiting up to three years – three years. Disabled people who are entitled to Social Security could be waiting up to three years to get their benefits.

Wait times over the phones will explode. Seniors are already having to wait over two 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? Because the goal of Trump and Musk is to destroy Social Security from within and 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. Donald Trump said it in his address to the joint session. This administration, the Trump-Musk administration, is coming 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 destroy them.

Senate Republicans should be demanding Elon Musk reverse the firings of the seven thousand staffers, reopen the field offices, restore the phone services.

Senate Republicans haven't done any of that. It’s shameful, and they are complicit in destroying Social Security the way Musk intends to do.

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