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Joe Biden has used his first speech since leaving office to criticise the Trump administration’s welfare policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ex-US president told a conference in Chicago that the government had “taken a hatchet” to Social Security, a system which Donald Trump and Elon Musk – who is leading the White House’s cost-cutting efforts – have said is beset by fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The administration is seeking to cut staff at the agency responsible for paying out $1.6 trillion (\u00a31.2 trillion) in benefits a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden did not refer to Trump by name during his speech on Tuesday, but said: “In fewer than 100 days, this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It’s kind of breathtaking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He described social security as a “sacred promise”, adding: “We know just how much social security matters to people’s lives.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden – who was speaking at a disability rights event – did not address his departure from the White House or the 2024 presidential election during his remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Social Security Agency (SSA) provides a base income for people in the US who are retired or cannot work because of a disability. It covers about 67 million Americans, primarily older citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Democratic politicians have repeatedly accused the administration of planning sweeping Social Security cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Member’s of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency have been making cuts to the agency since February, with the target of slashing 7,000 jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Musk has described social security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Trump has previously said that, while he intends to target fraudulent claims and payments to illegal immigrants, he will not make wholesale cuts to benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, he signed an order preventing illegal immigrants and “other ineligible people” from obtaining Social Security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to Biden’s Chicago speech,Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the president was “absolutely certain” about protecting benefits for “law-abiding tax-paying American citizens and seniors”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He will always protect that program,” she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a post on X, the SSA – which is now controlled by a Trump appointee – said Biden had been “lying” during his Chicago speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n