Following Devastating Trustees Report, Larson, Jeffries, and Democratic Leaders Call for Action to Protect Social Security from Trump Attacks and Enhance Benefits

"We are in a constitutional crisis. 'DOGE' cut staff at Social Security and stole your personal data. Trump officials are out to privatize your benefits. Speaker Johnson wants to raise the retirement age. Automatic benefit cuts are closer than ever, and Republicans are not only doing nothing about it, they are stealing the American peoples' data and taking an axe to Social Security customer service," said Larson. "Connecticut seniors will be hit the hardest if no action is taken. Democrats are united and ready to act to not only protect Social Security from cuts, but enhance benefits, by making the wealthy pay their fair share!"

"Republicans cannot be trusted to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Their One Big Ugly Bill already enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and jeopardized the solvency of the Social Security trust fund. Now, Deputy Speaker Johnson and Republicans are finally saying the quiet part out loud-they are coming directly after your Social Security benefits," said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). "House Democrats will never let them be successful. I'm grateful to Rep. John Larson for his work to strengthen our Social Security and keep the extreme MAGA Republicans away from the hard-earned benefits that Americans have paid into for their entire lives."

Yesterday's Trustees Report confirmed that Congress must act and that failed Trump policies, including the Big, Ugly Bill, mean that Social Security's insolvency is closer than ever. Inaction will lead to the average senior losing about $500/monthin Social Security benefits.

"Instead of joining Democrats to protect and enhance these programs, Donald Trump and Republicans are busy sabotaging them. After 'DOGE' took a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration under false pretenses, all Americans got were slashed customer service and their most personal data put at risk-without a penny saved," said Ranking Members Larson, Neal, and Doggett. "Republicans have long sought to destroy Social Security and Medicare but have always been met with an unwavering Democratic fight preventing it from happening. We've never allowed them to take away a lifetime of hard work from America's seniors, and that won't stop for every retiree to come."

Donald Trump and Republicans continue to undermine Social Security - cutting staff and closing regional offices, threatening to raise the retirement age, and rummaging through Americans' private data. This week, Speaker Johnson, an architect of the House Republican plan to raise the retirement age, reiterated his call to cut benefits as early as next year. Democrats, led by Ranking Member Larson, are ready to act to protect and strengthen Social Security from these cuts, and enhance benefits to keep pace with rising costs - by making the wealthy finally pay their fair share into Social Security.

"Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to Social Security. He is weakening its finances and wrecking its administration. Today, he sent Commissioner Bisignano to paint a rosy picture for Congress about how everything is great at Social Security. That's a lie. It's not possible to push out over 8,000 workers, including many of the most experienced and skilled, and then provide better service to the public," said Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works. "Americans trying to claim their hard-earned benefits want to talk to humans, not AI chatbots. Congress needs to reject Bisignano's falsehoods, fully fund the Social Security Administration, and demand that the Trump administration provide Social Security beneficiaries with the first-class service they have earned."

"Social Security is not a handout-it's an earned benefit that more than 74 million Americans depend on every month," said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance for Retired Americans. "The solution to strengthening the program is straightforward: close the loophole that allows the wealthiest Americans to stop paying into Social Security while everyone else contributes on every paycheck. Congress should act now to keep the promise Social Security represents."

"DOGE-inspired staff cuts and mayhem at SSA are not by accident. They are designed to erode the overwhelming public support for Social Security, making it easier for opponents to cut benefits. We cannot - and will not - allow that to happen. That's why the National Committee supports legislation that Democrats in Congress have introduced that will extend Social Security solvency and improve benefits by having the wealthy pay their fair share," said Dan Adcock, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Director of Government Relations and Policy.

"Social Security is a lifeline for millions of older adults who depend on it to afford housing, food, and healthcare. Many older adults especially rely on Social Security as a primary source of retirement income. Congress cannot wait while beneficiaries face the threat of cuts that would hurt their financial security. The National Hispanic Council on Aging calls on policymakers to protect and strengthen Social Security so current and future generations can retire with dignity and financial stability," said Dr. Yanira Cruz, President and CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA).

"In the 20-plus years I've worked on Social Security, many things have changed. However, voters across the political spectrum have been consistent about one thing: They want to increase contributions to Social Security, not cut benefits," said Monique Morrisey, Senior Economist at the Economic Policy Institute. "Congressman Larson has listened to voters and proposed solutions that strengthen Social Security by extending solvency without benefit cuts, including by taxing high earners who currently contribute nothing on earnings above $184,500."