Protests held in Springfield over potential Social Security cuts

Yahoo

02-04-2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Protesters in Springfield denounced potential cuts to Social Security on Tuesday.
These cuts to social security could see a firing of 12% of the agency. People rallied outside of the Social Security Office in Springfield, detesting the planned mass firings of Social Security employees.
These firings are a part of the Trump administration's plan to cut waste from government spending. City Councilwoman Zaida Govan told 22News many people in her area rely on Social Security.
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'I think when people think about Social Security, they don't think about the people who are retired, who have paid into it their whole entire lives and are now depending on it to survive, to live,' Govan said. 'And a lot of those people are going to be affected if, God forbid, anything happens to it.'
The Social Security Administration announced it plans to cut 7,000 jobs. The White House has pointed to a report from August 2024, where an audit found the agency made nearly $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022.
The White House said they have no plans to cut Social Security as a whole, but the people protesting spoke about how they're already seeing a reduction in benefits. People were seen lined up outside the Social Security office waiting for service.
Camillie Pineiro represents the union for Social Security employees in New England. She described how the cutting of the already understaffed organization will be felt by the public.
'Any reduction enforced results in a reduction of benefits,' Pineiro said. 'If I have a pending list of 100 cases, when will I get to the number 99? It's going to be weeks before that person gets paid.'
According to Pineiro, 3,000 Social Security employees have either been fired or accepted separation agreements.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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