CHICAGO, IL- Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) stood along with local elected officials, union leaders from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), disability advocates from Access Living, and national partners at a bilingual press conference to denounce the Trump administration's proposed cuts to thousands of Social Security Administration (SSA) employees. The administration's plan would eliminate thousands of SSA jobs and drastically reduce Spanish-language services-posing a serious threat to millions of Americans, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and Spanish-speaking immigrants in Illinois' 4th Congressional District.

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"Social Security isn't a gift - it's something paid into and earned. But right now, the Trump administration is slashing jobs, shutting down services, and targeting immigrant communities. This is not about saving Americans money - it's about making the rich even richer. We're here to say clearly: Hands off Social Security. Eliminating services in Spanish is more than bad policy - it's a civil rights crisis. We won't let it be dismantled without a fight," said Congressman García.

"We're facing an unprecedented staffing crisis-at a 50-year low while serving a record number of beneficiaries-with threats of layoffs and a reckless plan to cut 7,000 more workers. This understaffing is creating a public service crisis. Without adequate staff to run Social Security offices, we're witnessing a backdoor cut to Americans' earned benefits," said Jessica LaPointe, AFGE Council 220 President, and Cheryl Bellamy-Bonner, AFGE Local 1395 representing Social Security field workers.

"Social Security is a critical lifeline for people with disabilities, many of whom live in poverty because of their disability. There are more than 11 million disabled Americans under the age of 65 who rely on benefits from the Social Security Administration. When a local field office is closed, the number of people receiving disability benefits nearby drops by 16 percent. This cuts families from lifesaving financial support," said Michelle Garcia, Manager of Organizing and Community Development at Access Living.

"For our seniors, Social Security isn't extra money. It's how they pay the rent, buy food, cover prescriptions, and keep the lights on. A delayed check or a lost claim can throw their entire life into crisis. We have a responsibility to protect the dignity of our elders. We're not going to wait for this crisis to get worse. We're raising our voices now, because our seniors can't afford to be ignored," added Richard Juarez, Executive Director of Solutions for Care.

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