As Trump's allies increased rhetoric about the program's potential waste amid major restructuring efforts in the agency that oversees the program, Howard Lutnick of Commerce has issued warnings to “con artists” who receive Social Security benefits.
Appeared on the “All-in” podcast Released on ThursdayLutnick said the government “doesn't have to take a penny from someone worthy of social security, not a penny for someone worthy of Medicaid.”
“All we have to do is stop sending money to people who are not hurt, those who have been disabled for 50 years,” he insisted. “It's ridiculous and they have another job.”
At one point in the broad, nearly two-hour conversation, Lutnick also said that Social Security “if they didn't send their checks this month,” and that his “94-year-old stepmother would never call and complain.”
“She's going to think something's been messed up and she'll get it next month. The con man always made the loudest noise, screamed, screamed, grumbled,” the billionaire businessman said.
“Anyone who is involved in the payment system and process, anyone who knows the easiest way to find a scammer is to stop paying and listen. “My stepmother hasn't called, come on, your mother, 80 and 90 year olds, trust the government.”
“So those who get that free money, steal money, get money inappropriately, have an insider who's routing money,” he said. “They're going to scream and scream.”
His comments come after high-tech billionaire Elon Musk, whom President Trump tapped to lead government efficiency.
This rhetoric has prompted a pushback from experts and supporters who accused Trump's allies of spreading false claims about the amount of fraud actually found in the program.
Since Trump took office, thousands of federal employees have been xed as the administration appears to be a major reshaping of the federal government. The administration shows that even after a recent court order that found it illegal, it was urged to move to revive more than 20,000 workers.
Last month, the Social Security Agency (SSA) notified employees that “significant workforce reductions” were on the way, in a report that thousands of workers could be allowed to go. Dozens of SSA offices are also expected to close as government-wide cost-cutting operations continue.
Additionally, the SSA said Monday that if online authentication is not available, individuals will need to come in person to verify their identity, rather than doing so over the phone. The agency said the measure was intended to protect “social security records and interests against fraud.”
