Billionaire investor Mark Cuban slammed recent changes to Social Security, saying they amount to a sneaky way to reduce benefits. “Gotta give Doge credit for being the first to cut entitlements,” Cuban posted March 19 on X. “End telephone support for Social Security, cut dozens of SS offices and make Grandma and Grandpa finally get online to confirm their payments. What an amazing back door way to cut payments!”
The post quickly went viral, racking up over 9 million views. Cuban added, “Gonna be some upset seniors at town halls!”
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DOGE Under Fire for Service Reductions
Cuban was, of course, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk. As part of its federal overhaul push, DOGE is driving staffing cuts, office closures and a shift toward online-only services at the Social Security Administration.
Starting March 31, people can no longer call to change their direct deposit info or apply for retirement, survivor or disability benefits. These must now be done online or at a local field office. The SSA says this move is meant to reduce fraud. But critics argue it could shut out seniors without internet access or the means to travel.
An internal SSA memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal estimated 75,000 to 85,000 more people per week could now flood field offices. Meanwhile, nearly half of callers to SSA’s 800 number haven't been able to reach a representative this year.
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Cuban challenged those defending the changes, replying to one user on X, “You do realize that Social Security is returning the money you pay out of your paycheck? And the administration said they would not reduce payments in any way. You good with making it harder for seniors to confirm the bank accounts? Potentially resulting in them not being able to get their checks?”
Real-World Impact Already Showing
For some, the consequences are already real. Holly Lawrence, a 64-year-old freelance journalist in Washington, told the Journal that she gave up trying to reach someone by phone and had to wait weeks just to get an activation code to file online. “I’m financially strapped and cannot afford to get a financial adviser,” she said. “It was important to me to be able to talk to someone at Social Security.”
DOGE has plans to cut SSA staffing by another 12% this year and close around 50 field offices. Field offices have already stopped serving most walk-in customers.
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Musk’s Views Add Fuel to the Fire
Musk, who oversees DOGE, has long criticized Social Security. In a recent interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” he called it “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” When asked to explain, he struggled to articulate why. He said the program's future obligations far exceed its income, and demographic shifts are making the problem worse.
Still, critics say Musk’s comparison doesn't hold up. Unlike a Ponzi scheme, Social Security is a government-run program with clear rules and oversight. But that hasn’t stopped Musk from claiming massive fraud, even alleging over $100 billion is paid annually to people without valid Social Security numbers.
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