Davids Holds Discussion with Local Seniors on Threats to Social Security
Musk called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and Trump dismissed it as a “scam”
OVERLAND PARK – Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) met with local seniors who rely on Social Security to discuss the serious threats President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have recently made against the program. The conversation centered around the proposed cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA), including a recent internal memo to cut SSA phone service, the potential long-term consequences of those cuts, and the impact on beneficiaries in Kansas.
“Social Security is a lifeline for so many Kansans who have paid into the system their entire working lives, and they deserve to receive this support without threat or interference,” said Davids. “While I agree that we must eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs, the reckless attacks from Trump and Musk are completely out of touch with the struggles faced by hardworking Kansans. These baseless claims and harmful actions are nothing more than political stunts that put the interests of billionaires over the future of our seniors, children, and families. I will not stand by and let these dangerous threats to Social Security go unchecked.”
Social Security plays a crucial role in the lives of millions, from birth to retirement. In Kansas' Third District, there are 130,424 Social Security recipients, including 105,041 retirees, 6,120 children, and 9,975 disabled workers. Yet, both Trump and Elon Musk have recently made damaging comments about Social Security. Musk called the program a "Ponzi scheme," and Trump referred to it as a "scam."
Davids has been an advocate for Social Security beneficiaries throughout her time in Congress. She helped pass the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, a new law repealing outdated rules that reduce benefits for millions of public sector retirees, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers. These benefits have already begun hitting Kansans’ bank accounts. Earlier this year, Davids also voted against an extreme, partisan funding bill that would allow Trump and Musk to fire Social Security workers, causing office closures, longer wait times, and delays in benefits.
Today’s conversation was held with local seniors receiving Social Security benefits, including Jan Bombeck of Overland Park, Dan and Jeanie Murphy of Shawnee Mission, Nancy Newman of Overland Park, and Jan Faidley of Roeland Park. The group discussed how the threats to Social Security could impact their ability to live safely, and Davids reassured them of her commitment to pushing back against these extreme efforts to weaken the program.
Despite the increasing demand for services, SSA’s staffing has been in decline. Since 2015, SSA staffing has dropped by 7,000 employees while the number of beneficiaries has increased by 7 million. Currently, the agency is operating at a 25-year staffing low. Recent proposals could worsen the situation. The Trump-appointed Acting Commissioner of SSA has proposed cutting the agency’s workforce by 12 percent, a move that could lead to longer backlogs, delayed payments, and severely strained customer service. In Kansas, SSA currently has 230 employees across 12 field offices, serving 588,538 total beneficiaries.
Also, Musk has made baseless claims about fraud in the program, including an assertion that 20 million deceased individuals are still marked as alive in the Social Security database. However, experts, including the SSA leader, have rejected these claims. Trump further exacerbated concerns in his address to Congress, falsely stating that the Social Security program is plagued by “shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud." Davids supports efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs, but these baseless claims create fear and confusion, potentially making it harder for Kansans to access their benefits.
“Social Security isn’t in crisis — it just needs some responsible updates to stay strong for the future. That’s what Rep. Davids is focused on,” said Dan Murphy, Shawnee Mission resident. “Drastic cuts would hurt people who rely on it and weaken the economy. Calling it a scam is misleading. Unlike fraud schemes that benefit a few, Social Security is a legal, government-backed program that helps millions and can be adjusted to keep working for everyone.”
“If the Trump White House succeeds in dismantling Social Security, it won’t just be about how people pay their next bills — it will be a sign of something much bigger,” said Nancy Newman, Overland Park resident. “If our government can take away the hard-earned benefits of nearly one-fifth of our population, what’s stopping them from taking more — our voice, our vote, our dignity? Thankfully we still have elected officials like Rep. Davids who are fighting to protect our rights every day.”
“Billionaires have no idea what it means to lose 70 percent of monthly income, but that is what would happen at my house if we lost Social Security,” said Jeanie Murphy, Shawnee Mission resident.
Davids is committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security for Kansans and continues looking for ways to work across the aisle to ensure that essential programs, including Medicare, are secure for current and future generations.