Former President Joe Biden is set to deliver his first public speech since leaving the White House on Tuesday, focusing on Social Security, a topic Democrats have zeroed in on as the Trump administration takes a sledgehammer to federal agencies and programs.

Biden will address attendees of the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference in Chicago, where he will join other political figures, such as former Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), former Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), and former Maryland Democratic Governor and Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley, NBC 5 Chicago reported.

Whether Biden mentions President Donald Trump by name during his speech will be a main point of interest as the focus on Social Security makes it likely that the former president will take some jabs at his predecessor and successor. Biden will deliver the speech as Democrats search for new leaders who can revive a party suffering from a “record low” approval rating.

“We are deeply honored President Biden is making his first public appearance at ACRD’s sold-out conference. As bipartisan leaders have long agreed, Americans who retire after paying into Social Security their whole lives deserve the vital support and caring services they receive,” ACRD Executive Director Rachel Buck said. “As a result, we are thrilled the President will be joining us to discuss how we can work together for a stable and successful future for Social Security.”

O’Malley added, “Social Security is a sacred promise between generations. We are deeply grateful to the President for joining us at ACRD to discuss how we can keep that promise for all Americans.”

While vowing to protect Social Security, the Trump administration is looking to cut back on the Social Security Administration staff. The SSA said in February that it has “set a staffing target of 50,000, down from the current level of approximately 57,000 employees.” The staff reduction comes as Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project identifies where the federal government can cut spending. The SSA is also planning on closing six regional offices that provide support and services for SSA employees, The New York Times reported.

Democrats have slammed the SSA cuts, arguing that the move threatens Social Security beneficiaries who rely on their monthly payments. Some Social Security beneficiaries have also complained about longer wait times on the phone and multiple outages on the “My Social Security” benefits portal since Trump made the cuts.

Trump’s senior adviser, Elon Musk, has been a primary target of Democrats’ criticisms over Social Security. Musk has focused on finding fraud and waste within government programs, including entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The White House defended Musk last month amid controversy over comments he made about eliminating “waste and fraud” in entitlement spending.

“The Social Security Administration made an estimated $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022,” the White House said in a statement, citing a 2024 Inspector General report.