President Donald Trump marked the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act with a proclamation from the White House, announcing that his administration has removed approximately 275,000 illegal immigrants from the Social Security system. The move, part of a broader set of reforms, aims to strengthen the program for American citizens, Trump said during a press conference alongside Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano.
“We’ve already kicked nearly 275,000 illegal aliens off of the Social Security system. These are people, many of whom have already left the country, and yet we were sending them checks all the time,” Trump stated, emphasizing that the purge is “making the system strong.” The administration also reported deleting 2.4 million outdated records, some over a century old, as part of efforts to eliminate fraud and waste.
The announcement coincides with the signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which eliminates federal taxation on Social Security income for most seniors, fulfilling a key campaign promise. “The vast majority of seniors will no longer pay taxes on that income,” the White House said, framing the change as an economic boost for retirees.
Under Trump’s leadership, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented sweeping changes to improve efficiency and customer service. The agency reported a 70% increase in call handling capacity, reducing average wait times from 30 minutes to six minutes. Field office wait times have dropped by 23%, with all offices now fully staffed and open five days a week. Online services are now available 24/7, ending a previous 29-hour weekly downtime, which led to over 280,000 new logins in just two weeks.
Additionally, the SSA has reduced initial disability claim backlogs by 26% and cut disability hearing wait times by about two months. Over $17 billion in payments under the Social Security Fairness Act were issued five months ahead of schedule, with the agency projecting over $1 billion in savings this fiscal year through efficiency measures and fraud prevention.
Critics, however, question the accuracy of Trump’s claims, noting that undocumented immigrants typically cannot access Social Security benefits without a valid Social Security number. Some argue that undocumented workers contribute billions in taxes to the system without claiming benefits, and mass removals could strain Social Security’s finances.
Trump defended the reforms as necessary to protect the program for American workers and seniors. “Social Security is rooted in a simple premise: those who gave their careers to building our nation will always have the support, stability, and relief they deserve,” he said in his proclamation.
The announcement has sparked polarized reactions. Supporters, including some conservative voices on X, praised the move as a step toward accountability, with one user claiming, “Democrats swore ‘not a single one’ ever got benefits. The Democrats lied, again!” Others expressed skepticism, citing potential economic impacts on the Social Security trust fund.
The SSA, under Bisignano’s leadership, aims to become a “digital-first agency,” with a goal of 200 million Americans holding digital SSA accounts by next year. “We are serving more people and delivering more than was ever delivered before in a manner of high quality,” Bisignano said.
As the Trump administration continues its push for stricter immigration policies and Social Security reforms, the debate over the program’s future remains contentious, with implications for millions of Americans relying on its benefits.
