Trump and Musk’s Social Security ‘chainsaw massacre’ is slashing all the wrong things

Musk, a chainsaw and an adoring crowd

Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Musk's rock star chainsaw moment at CPAC Tech billionaire Elon Musk was one of the main attractions at ...

The Hill - Feb. 21

President Trump should combine extending tax cuts with fixing Social Security

It would be good fiscal policy and probably good politics

MarketWatch - 5d

Trump and Musk's slash-and-burn tactics are a sticking point in talks to prevent a shutdown

President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk are taking a hatchet to federal agencies, using executive power to impose spending and job cuts that have sparked a polarizing debate in ...

NBC News - 2d

USAID cuts are just the start of Trump, Musk plan to slash agency spending

The dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) appears to be the beginning of President Trump's efforts to instill massive cuts across federal agencies. CBS News' ...

CBS News - 1d

Are 150-year-olds collecting social security? What to know about Musk's claims

Elon Musk says the Department of Government Efficiency has found rampant fraud at the Social Security Administration. But that may not be the case, and an aging computer system could instead be to ...

CBS News - 6d

Trump’s Plan to Kill Social Security Benefit Tax Could Accelerate Its Insolvency

Social security is already in danger. President Trump’s plan to get rid of income taxes on the benefit won’t save it. In fact, it’ll probably do the opposite.

Inc. - Feb. 20

Elon Musk waves 'bureaucracy chainsaw' gifted by Argentina

Argentina's president gifted Elon Musk a chainsaw to symbolise cuts to bureaucracy.

BBC News - Feb. 21

Musk boasts federal cuts by hoisting chainsaw at conference

Elon Musk drives home his rapid shredding of the federal government by hoisting a chainsaw representing the slashing of jobs and spending during a conference. Some Republicans are facing pushback ...

NBC News - Feb. 21

Musk wields his Doge chainsaw - but is a backlash brewing?

Facing constituents angry about the impact of sweeping government job cuts, some Republicans are expressing concern.

BBC News - Feb. 21

Sanders reintroducing measure increasing Social Security benefits

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is reintroducing a measure that would increase Social Security benefits. Sanders is joined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Val ...

The Hill - 1d

Social Security notifies employees of 'significant workforce reductions'

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is notifying employees of “significant workforce reductions” on the way as it prepares for what it describes as an “agency-wide organizational ...

The Hill - 5h

Bucha, Site of Massacre, Feels Sting of Trump Shift on Ukraine

Residents of a Ukrainian suburb that was the site of notorious attacks on civilians after Russia invaded are alarmed by President Trump’s warm words for Moscow.

The New York Times - Feb. 20

Kinzinger: Musk's chainsaw moment will feature in Democratic attack ads

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said Sunday that tech billionaire Elon Musk’s recent moment with a chainsaw at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) will be featured in Democratic ...

The Hill - 5d

How many people over 100 receive Social Security benefits?

Here's how many Social Security retirement checks go out to people 99 and older. Hint: It's far fewer than Trump claims.

The Hill - Feb. 21

Here's what upcoming budget negotiations may mean for Social Security

Benefit cuts are off the table for now in upcoming budget negotiations, experts say. But the agency may continue to struggle with customer service woes.

CNBC - 3d

This trend has important implications for Social Security’s full retirement age

New data show strong relationship between earnings and life expectancy

MarketWatch - 3d

Social Security boost for more than 3.2 million coming in April

Social Security Administration says it is immediately starting to pay retroactive benefits due to more than 3.2 million retirees.

CBS News - 2d

Social Security checks will be coming for these previously ineligible workers — as early as this week

The agency has been working on adjusting benefits after the repeal of WEP and GPO.

MarketWatch - 2d

Can your Social Security benefits be garnished by a debt collector?

If you receive Social Security and owe debt collectors money, your benefits could be at risk. Here's why.

CBS News - 1d

Social Security Administration offering voluntary buyouts ahead of expected layoffs

The Social Security Administration is offering payouts to employees who voluntarily resign from the federal agency, ahead of what they warn will be "significant workforce reductions."

CBS News - 20h

Can you collect Social Security if you owe back taxes?

If you're trying to collect Social Security benefits, it's important to know how your tax debt could impact that.

CBS News - 5h

Social Security Administration sets ‘massive’ reorganization, ‘significant’ job cuts

The Social Security Administration announced a “massive” reorganization and “significant” job cuts on Thursday that critics said could increase customer-service wait times and make it more ...

MarketWatch - 4h

Social Security workers warn job cuts could hurt service for Americans

"We are already short-staffed as it is,"one Social Security Administration employee said of the agency's plans to slash its workforce.

CBS News - 2h

Trump administration, Musk’s DOGE plan to fire nearly all CFPB staff and wind down agency, employees say

Employees testified that CFPB leaders and Elon Musk's DOGE want to wind down the agency to five employees, the minimum required under law.

CNBC - 5h

19 things Trump and his team did this week

In his fifth week in office, Trump called Zelensky a dictator, sought more federal civil service cuts and dropped in on Nascar.

BBC News - 6d

Tesla Fires a Manager Who Criticized Elon Musk on Social Media

The employee objected to a post on X by Mr. Musk, Tesla’s chief executive and a top adviser to President Trump, that referred to Nazi leaders.

The New York Times - 21h

Girl listed in state records as 'Unakite Thirteen Hotel' finally gets a Social Security number

A Nebraska father struggling to get a Social Security number and valid birth certificate for his toddler with the computer-generated name Unakite Thirteen Hotel gets a reprieve.

NBC News - 2d

3.2 million people get boosted Social Security: Who qualifies for retroactive payments?

A law signed by former President Joe Biden in January is starting to show its impact, as millions of people begin to receive bigger Social Security payments plus back pay.

The Hill - 2d

Agency speeds up Social Security Fairness Act timeline, with lump sums, benefit increases for millions of people

The agency had previously said it could take "more than one year" to process benefit changes following the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.

CNBC - 2d

The Social Security Fairness Act could boost payments for more than 3.2 million Americans—see who qualifies

President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law before he left office in January. Here's who may see a boost to their benefits and when.

CNBC - 1d

Social Security Administration could lay off up to 50% of its workforce, source says – live

Social Security Administration expected to lay off at least 7,000 people, but a source tells Associated Press reduction could be as high as 50%. As Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk ...

The Guardian - 1d

Social Security plans to axe thousands of workers nationwide. What could it mean for you?

“Significant” job cuts are coming for Social Security that will only make the program less efficient.

MarketWatch - 6h

Worried about Social Security staff cuts? Put money aside now, the agency’s former director says.

Martin O’Malley said DOGE’s involvement in Social Security will hurt beneficiaries. Brace for delays in service — and even benefits.

MarketWatch - 1h

What Elon Musk Got Wrong About Why Federal Retirement Is Still Managed out of a Limestone Mine

The massive underground facility, which has been used to store archives since the 1960s, remains a crucial but convoluted hub for US government records.

Wired - 6d

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s Diatribe About Working From Home Is the Dumbest Thing I’ve Heard All Week

‘Don’t don’t give me this s–t that work-from-home-Friday works,” Jamie Dimon said at an employee town hall.

Inc. - 5d

Stories We Can’t Stop Thinking About: Deepfakes, the Tesla Backlash, and All Things Chips

This week on “Uncanny Valley,” our hosts talk about three big stories from February.

Wired - 23h

Musk's private security detail deputized by U.S. Marshals Service, sources say

The U.S. Marshals Service routinely deputizes police. However, the move to deputize private security officers, who are not sworn law enforcement officials, is considered unorthodox

CBS News - Feb. 21

US Marshals Service deputizes Musk's security team: reports

The U.S. Marshals Service has deputized some of tech billionaire Elon Musk's private security detail, giving them specific rights and protections of federal law enforcement agents, multiple outlets ...

The Hill - Feb. 21

Trump administration cuts some election security workers

There have been sweeping changes at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is tasked with protecting the U.S. from foreign meddling in elections. CBS News' Nicole Sganga reports.

CBS News - 3d

Trump and Musk’s Social Security ‘chainsaw massacre’ is slashing all the wrong things

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