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Social Security: Bernie Sanders issues dire warning about Elon Musk's plan

https://lemmy.world/post/26608533

Social Security: Bernie Sanders issues dire warning about Elon Musk's plan - Lemmy.World

Summary Senator Bernie Sanders warns that Elon Musk’s plan to cut Social Security Administration staff by up to 50% could cause 37,000 additional deaths yearly among disability benefit applicants and extend average wait times to 412 days. While the SSA clarified they’re targeting a reduction from 57,000 to 50,000 employees (not 50%, or 300,000), Republican leaders like Mike Johnson and Rick Scott have discussed “reforming” entitlement programs for long-term solvency. This contrasts with Trump’s assurance that “Social Security won’t be touched.” Democrats argue staffing cuts effectively reduce benefits by limiting access and delaying payments for vulnerable Americans.

Mar 10, 2025 at 11:05amWeb
Show threadEdwardthefma99✡Mar 10, 2025
firing those who aren’t doing thare job is a good thing cutting obvious fraud should be ok its in the best interest of every one giving money to those who don’t need it only hurts those who really need it
Show threadhotspurMar 10, 2025

That’s not how they’re doing it. They’re just slashing anything they don’t understand, entire departments. There are many interdependent systems and each uncalibrated attack brings them closer to failure/disruption.

There is no careful analysis about “people not doing their jobs” going on here.

Show threadSinningStromgaldMar 10, 2025

Very much this. DOGE and Musk have taken zero time to try and understand what any of these programs they are cutting do or how they operate. They are under the impression that much of the important work can “be simply automated” via LLM’s or some nonsense.

They truly are the chainsaw, not the scalpel.

Show threadSGGeorwellMar 10, 2025
Stop engaging with trolls
Show threadLandedGentryMar 10, 2025

We both know that what you’re describing is not how it will be handled. There is no nuance or care being used here.

They have no clue what they’re doing. Does this seem like efficiency? Is this what you want?

FDA moves to rehire medical device, food safety and other staffers fired days earlier

The Food and Drug Administration is reinstating some of the hundreds of staffers it fired last week. That’s according to agency employees who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The FDA callbacks are the latest example of the chaotic fallout from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's sweeping cost-cutting effort. Many of the staffers getting their jobs back are responsible for reviewing medical devices and food ingredients. After last week’s terminations, lobbyists for the device industry warned that the cuts would hurt companies and patients. The FDA’s device program is heavily funded by companies that pay the agency to quickly review their products.

AP News
Show threadhenfredemarsMar 10, 2025
Totally they meant to fire those nuclear specialists and people working on flu vaccine that they immediately had to re-hire in desparation.
Show threadCaptainvaqinaMar 10, 2025
Yea that’s not what your filthy fucking fuhrer is doing.
Show threadBananaMar 10, 2025

You truly believe that they’re actually doing what they say they’re doing even though they’ve lied through their teeth at every fucking step?

They’ve literally been counting on people being this goddamn gullible. My god.

Show threadwildbus8979Mar 10, 2025
If that was the goal, would hiring forensic accounts instead of 19 year old sycophants be more effective?
Show threadkinsnikMar 10, 2025
they are not cutting any fraud. the US already has an independent, non-partisan accountability office that actually investigates spending, instead of cutting random items based on the name without any analysis or understanding like musk is doing. and the executive power (including any stupidly named agency within in) has no power to change the budget set by congress. it is literally unconstitutional.
Show threadEdwardthefma99✡Mar 10, 2025
he didn’t change the budget he just pointed out the fraud and the main branch of government took action that is totally leagle
Show threadGirru00Mar 10, 2025
Land of the free, patriots of the eagle, when my side does anything, it’s totally leagle
Show threadproleMar 10, 2025
How fucking blind and/or stupid do you need to believe that this is what is actually happening?
Show threadfeddylemmyMar 10, 2025
I think this thread is a good example of how one troll comment can derail the whole conversation.
Show threadFenrirIIIMar 10, 2025
Obvious trolls like them need to be banned.