FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, February 10, 2025
Contact: Linda Benesch, lbenesc
Elected Officials, Beneficiaries, and Workers Rally Outside Social Security Administration to Tell Elon Musk Hands Off Social Security!
Woodlawn, MD — This afternoon, elected officials, Social Security beneficiaries, workers, and advocates rallied outside the Social Security Administration to protest reported plans for unelected billionaire Elon Musk to interfere with the agency’s operations.
Video of the full rally is available here, and highlights are available here.
“We have one simple message: Elon Musk, keep your hands off of our Social Security!” – Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
“Those who have served in this building do so no matter who the president is. Many of them have served for decades under Republican presidents and under Democratic presidents. Because they serve the people!” – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Civil servants “put on their clothes and they come to buildings like this all over the country to do a simple non-partisan job. And that is to serve the people of America with the best service they can provide.” – Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD)
“They’ve got Project 2025. But what you see today is the start of Project 2026. Those who stand by quietly will be held accountable in this next election.” – Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD)
Social Security is “one of the greatest social contracts this country has ever built.” But now “an unelected person unconfirmed by Congress…has his hands on our data” – Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD)
“This is all about destroying the Federal Civil Service and eliminating our ability to serve the American people.” – Rich Couture, President of AFGE Council 215, SSA Office of Hearing Operations
“This is not about efficiency. This is about two things. This is about stealing the personal data of Americans. And it is about taking a lifetime of earned benefits, your Social Security benefits, and turning it into a bitcoin bank!” – Martin O’Malley, former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration