Sanders, Warren, Social Security War Room Leaders Introduce Bill to Save Social Security from Trump Cuts

Sanders, Warren, Social Security War Room Leaders Introduce Bill to Save Social Security from Trump Cuts

Bill would reverse disastrous Trump admin Social Security cuts, prevent field offices from shutting down, and more.

Bill One-Pager (PDF) | Bill Text (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Senate Democrats' Social Security War Room leaders today introduced the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act. The legislation - unveiled for Social Security's 90th anniversary last month - reverses the disastrous Trump administration's cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA), prevents SSA from shutting down field offices, makes it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to apply for benefits over the phone, and provides the resources the SSA needs to approve earned benefits quickly.

Additional cosponsors include: Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Angus King (I-Maine), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).

The Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act would reverse Trump's cuts to Social Security and rebuild the Social Security Administration by:

• Protecting and improving Americans' access to Social Security offices - prohibiting closures, relocations and service reductions, reversing Trump's layoffs, and ensuring Americans can speak to real people to get their benefits;
• Increasing funding by $5 billion to improve customer service, modernize technology and reduce backlogs;
• Restoring assistance for vulnerable and disabled people to access their benefits;
• Safeguarding Americans' data and stopping Trump's politicization of Social Security; and
• Removing DOGE's authority and calling for an independent investigation into DOGE's actions at SSA.

The legislation is endorsed by Social Security Works, AFSCME, Alliance for Retired Americans, Center for Living & Working, Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, American Association of People with Disabilities, Justice in Aging, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, New York Legal Assistance Group, New Disabled South and the National Disability Institute.

"Since Trump has been in office, he has worked overtime - including with one of the wealthiest men in the world, Elon Musk - to dismantle Social Security and undermine the faith that the American people have in this vitally important program," said Senator Sanders. "Thousands of Social Security staff have lost their jobs, seniors and people with disabilities are having a much harder time receiving the benefits they have earned, field offices have been shut down and the 1-800 number is a mess. That is beyond unacceptable. On the 90th anniversary of Social Security, our job must be to reverse these disastrous cuts, expand Social Security and make it easier, not harder, for Americans to receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. That's precisely what this legislation will do."

"The Trump administration has created chaos at the Social Security Administration, making it harder for Americans to get the monthly checks they've earned over a lifetime of hard work. This new bill is an important step to fight back against Trump's chaos and protect Americans' Social Security," said Senator Warren.

Social Security is the most successful government program in U.S. history, paying out every benefit owed to every eligible American on time and without delay for almost 90 years, and helping millions of seniors, widows, children and people with disabilities live with dignity. In 2023 alone, Social Security lifted 27.6 million Americans out of poverty, including more than 19.5 million seniors. Without it, nearly 40% of people over age 65 would be living in poverty.

Despite the program's success, the Trump administration has cut SSA's workforce by 7,000 staffers, closed field offices throughout the country, attempted to force beneficiaries to go in person to receive benefits, limited access to a live operator when Americans call the 1-800 number for Social Security benefits, and issued false statements designed to undermine the confidence that the American people have in this life-saving program. Trump has also given the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) staff unfettered access to Americans' most sensitive private information.

Senate Dems' Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration's attack on Americans' Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans' agenda and their continued cuts to Americans' Social Security services and benefits.

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