Special Poll
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stirred controversy this week after making comments that many interpreted as dismissive toward older Americans receiving Social Security. In a lengthy interview on the “All-In” podcast, Lutnick claimed the system is riddled with fraud and pointed the finger at long-term disability recipients and elderly beneficiaries, some of whom he implied were abusing the system.
He stated the government doesn’t need to cut benefits for people who truly deserve Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, but added, “What we have to do is stop sending money to someone who’s not hurt, who’s on disability for 50 years. It’s ridiculous, and they have another job.” The remark echoed the Trump administration’s broader push to root out inefficiencies and waste in government programs through a large-scale restructuring of the Social Security Administration.
Lutnick went on to suggest that older Americans who are legitimate beneficiaries tend to be quiet and patient when problems arise—implying that those who complain the loudest may be committing fraud. “If Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month, my mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain,” he said. “A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining.”
He claimed that people who are stealing from the system are the first to make noise when payments are paused. “Anybody who knows the payment systems knows the easiest way to find a fraudster is to stop payments and listen,” he said. “Because my mother-in-law’s not calling. Come on, your mother, 80-year-olds, 90-year-olds, they trust the government.”
Lutnick added that individuals who are “stealing the money” often have inside help, stating, “They are going to yell and scream,” unlike the older Americans he described as more trusting and passive.
His remarks have raised eyebrows, with critics saying they suggest that older Americans who voice concerns about their Social Security checks might be suspected of fraud. While the administration continues efforts to modernize and tighten oversight of federal benefits, Lutnick’s comments have added fuel to an already sensitive conversation about how to protect programs like Social Security without unfairly targeting the people who rely on them most—many of whom are older Americans.