Democrats accuse Social Security chief of politicized tax email
Five Democratic senators say a July 2 Social Security email overstated senior tax relief and blurred the agency’s nonpartisan role.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Five Democratic senators are pressing Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano over a July 2 email they say pushed a political message and overstated how much tax help older Americans received under a Republican-backed law.
The email, sent by Bisignano under the title “Making Life More Affordable for America's Seniors,” highlighted customer service changes at the Social Security Administration and praised the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, known as OBBBA, for its effect on retirees’ taxes, according to CBS News.
In the message, Bisignano wrote that “over 35 million American seniors received an average of $7,500 in relief this tax season” thanks to President Trump, CBS News reported. He also cited shorter waits at field offices and faster phone service for beneficiaries, ending the email with the line: “Put simply, America's seniors are winning!”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico challenged the message in a July 21 letter to Bisignano.
The senators accused him of sending “misleading information” and “a partisan, politicized message,” arguing that the email undercut the Social Security Administration’s standing as an independent agency. They also pointed to Bisignano’s March 2025 nomination testimony, when he said he would run the agency in an independent and nonpartisan way.
The lawmakers wrote that Bisignano had “once again disregarded” that promise and was using taxpayer resources in a way that threatened public confidence in Social Security. They asked him to answer questions about the email by Aug. 11.
Tax claim draws scrutiny
The dispute centers on how the OBBBA changed taxes for older filers. The Social Security Administration previously said the law would eliminate federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, according to CBS News.
Advocates and the Democratic senators say that description is wrong. The law did not end taxation of Social Security benefits. It created a new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers age 65 and older.
In their letter, the senators called the $7,500 figure used by Bisignano a “gross overestimate” of the law’s impact. Treasury Department data cited by CBS News showed that 68% of filers claiming the enhanced senior deduction had income below $100,000, while 94% had income below $200,000.
Shannon Benton, executive director of the nonpartisan advocacy group The Senior Citizens League, told CBS News by email that Bisignano’s number may reflect an average deduction amount for older households, but not the actual tax benefit. She said it was not “a $7,500 tax refund or $7,500 in direct savings.”
A deduction reduces taxable income, which can lower a tax bill, but it does not cut taxes dollar for dollar. Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, told CBS News that the Tax Policy Center estimated seniors would see an average tax reduction of about $1,100 from the senior deduction.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities also reported that nearly half of seniors owe no income tax, which means they cannot benefit from the $6,000 deduction. Richtman said by email that the OBBBA did not reduce or eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits and accused Trump and Bisignano of misleading the public.
Treasury Department figures cited by CBS News showed filers making $100,000 to $200,000 received an average tax cut of more than $1,250, while those making $50,000 to $100,000 received more than $815 on average.
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, told CBS News that Bisignano’s use of the agency email list was “unprecedented” and called it inappropriate for political messaging.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.