Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is calling on the head of Social Security to resign, as Democrats ramp up a messaging campaign around the safety net program.

Schumer accused acting commissioner Leland Dudek of cutting benefits for vulnerable seniors during a "Social Security Day of Action" event in New York.

Schumer demands resignation

On the same day as Schumer's press conference, ex-President Biden returned to the public spotlight with a speech accusing Trump and Elon Musk of slashing Social Security.

Trump could not cut Social Security benefits even if he wanted to, since Congress mandates benefit payments. But Democrats have argued that DOGE-inspired layoffs at the Social Security Administration (SSA) are creating chaos and confusion for retirees.

Schumer labelled Dudek a "hatchet man" chosen to perform the dirty work of Trump and Musk.

"Donald Trump and Elon Musk have a hatchet man in Leland Dudek, an acting Commissioner with an emphasis on the 'acting,' because his real role is to dismantle the very office he is supposed to lead, make better, and protect," Schumer said.

"We have seen his audition and his work on the stage, and it is clear: Dudek is incapable of doing this job in the way it needs to be done. He won't protect seniors. He will hurt them. Leland Dudek should resign."

Trump targets fraud

The Social Security Administration is implementing new anti-fraud checks for all applications submitted over the phone. Claims that get flagged will require an in-office visit.

Dudek had initially planned to stop allowing benefits applications over the phone, citing fraud risks, but he reversed course under pressure.

“The GOP is trying to dismantle Social Security from the inside,” Schumer wrote on X. "They're closing offices, firing workers, and cutting phone lines, making it harder for people to get their benefits.”

Democrats see protecting Social Security as a key issue as they try to move past their recent slump in public approval. Trump and Musk have targeted Social Security fraud, particularly by illegal aliens who have poured into the country with encouragement from Democrats.

In the 1990s, a more centrist era, Democrats including Schumer criticized Social Security fraud as a magnet for illegal immigration. But Democrats dropped such concerns as their opposition to illegal entry softened and gave way to an embrace of open borders.

This is pure gold 😂

The 1996 model Schumer is right! https://t.co/4mOmA54VX8

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 3, 2025

A longtime fixture in Congress, Schumer has reliably won re-election in New York for years. But he has faced doubts over his political future since agreeing to pass a spending deal favored by Trump. The move angered some Democrats who said Schumer gave away critical leverage.

Schumer is resorting to conventional political stunts as he tries to rebuild confidence in his leadership, but toothless resignation demands and press conferences won't make any impact on the Trump administration. Nor will they convince Democrats that Schumer is capable of leading them through a difficult period for the party.