Democratic former President Joe Biden on Tuesday made his first major speech since leaving the White House in January, defending the Social Security Administration as the Trump administration cuts agency staff and shutters some of its offices.

Glendale, Ariz. • The line started forming outside the Social Security office in suburban Glendale, Arizona, not long after sunrise, dozens of retirees and people with disabilities, shuffling papers, some leaning on walkers, all anxious to know whether President Donald Trump’s government overhaul had put their safety nets at risk.

In recent weeks, phones have been ringing at local councils on aging, elected officials’ offices and Social Security field offices amid concerns about the Trump administration's changes to the program.