Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Social Security Overhaul and Lutnick's Comments

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's remarks dismissing missed payments as minor and new SSA policies requiring in-person verification have drawn widespread criticism from advocacy groups and the public.

Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary, claimed on a podcast that complaints about missed Social Security payments indicate fraud, sparking public outrage.
The Social Security Administration announced the elimination of phone-based identity verification, requiring in-person visits, which critics say will harm rural and vulnerable populations.
Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek threatened to shut down the agency entirely after a federal court restricted DOGE's access to sensitive SSA data.
The AARP and other advocacy groups warn that the administration's changes will lead to economic hardship and reduced access to benefits for millions of Americans.
Critics have also raised ethical concerns over Lutnick's promotion of Tesla stock, given Elon Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).