Hands Off Social Security! Elon Musk and Republicans creating fear among beneficiaries who earned their retirement!

Worried About Social Security❓ #FireElonMusk❗

Opinion letter published in the Las Vegas The Record-Courier:

Editor:  Elon Musk’s recent statements about Social Security should scare everyone.😱😰😨 Musk is pushing debunked claims that the program is “rife with fraud” while insisting, without evidence, that there’s massive waste to cut. 

On Fox (Fake❗)Business, Musk declared entitlements like Social Security is “the big one to eliminate.” 

These horrible scare tactics have zero factual basis: government watchdogs find less than 1 percent of benefits are paid improperly, and experts call Musk’s allegations blatant misinformation.

Now those false claims are used to justify harmful changes to the Social Security support system. The Donald Trump Republican administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency (is rolling out policies that hurt everyday beneficiaries. As of March 31, 2025, Social Security recipients must verify their identity online or in person, phone verification is no longer allowed. This creates huge obstacles for seniors, people with disabilities, and rural residents who often lack internet access or reliable transportation.

Meanwhile, severe budget cuts are undermining Social Security services. The agency has already lost 7,000 employees, and six of its ten regional offices are set to close. Local Social Security field offices are also disappearing; the Las Vegas office is already closing, and Reno may be next. Closing offices and slashing staff will only make it harder for millions to get the benefits they’ve earned.

The future of Social Security is at stake, and we must not stay silent. Now is the time to push back against misinformation and demand our leaders protect this vital program for everyone who depends on it.

From Beth Mancl in Genoa, Nevada