Latest news with #SocialSecurityOffice
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protests held in Springfield over potential Social Security cuts
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. Trump administration cuts $106M in funding for schools in Massachusetts '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 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Hands off our Social Security,' demonstrators in Kalamazoo demand
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — Hundreds of people gathered outside the Social Security Office in Kalamazoo Saturday, demanding protection for their benefits amid sweeping changes. The Social Security Administration announced earlier this month that starting March 31, it will no longer allow people to prove their identity over the phone. Instead, it will require in-person visits or online authentication. The measures are intended to reduce fraud. However, opponents argue that the , like those who live in rural areas, those who don't have internet access and those who have mobility limitations. Social Security requiring in-office visits for millions of recipients, applicants President Donald Trump has said he will not cut Social Security benefits. But during an interview with Joe Rogan, Elon Musk termed ,' and a federal judge earlier this week Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from Social Security systems that include millions of Americans' personal information. Dozens of Social Security Administration offices across the country are slated to close, part of an effort by DOGE and the Trump administration to shrink the federal government, And the Social Security Administration intends to cut about 7,000 jobs, it last month. Republicans want Musk to shut up about Social Security The changes have left many people uneasy, both across the country and in West Michigan. At Saturday's 'Hands off our Social Security' rally in Kalamazoo, which was organized by the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, protesters held signs reading 'stop DOGE' and 'we fight for democracy.' They said any threat to Social Security benefits could have devastating impacts. 'If they were to suddenly cut our benefits — my benefits, my mother's benefits — we would be in a world of hurt,' Jayne Trombley said. 'We need those funds that we contributed to through our working lives.' 'People depend on these checks for housing, food and gas,' said Troy Zukowski-Serlin, a clinical social worker. 'If that's put at risk, it can lead to a major psychological crisis.' A list of the Social Security offices across the US expected to close this year State Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, was also in attendance. She said Social Security benefits are important for people across the country, regardless of political party. 'Their lives are on the line. You cannot play politics with people's lives. This is the social safety net. It's been around for decades,' Rogers told News 8. 'Things like Social Security, Medicaid, health care, fundamental things that Americans have come to rely on are at risk, and it's unacceptable.' Protesters say they want their representatives to take a firm stance, ensuring that Social Security benefits remain protected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor McNamara opposes DOGE closure of Rockford Social Security office
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Mayor Tom McNamara advocated for keeping Rockford's Social Security Office open after it was targeted for closure by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to the , the SSA building, at 502 E Jefferson Street, has an annual lease cost of $36,768. 'Shutting down the Rockford office is an unacceptable decision and would create unnecessary barriers —especially transportation challenges— for thousands of residents, seniors, people with disabilities and working families who rely on these critical services the most,' McNamara said. 'We must ensure that our most vulnerable residents have access to the support they need, not make it harder for them. Our residents have worked hard and paid into the system for decades; they deserve accessible and reliable support.' McNamara was in Washington this week to advocate on behalf of domestic violence survivors. Last week, the SSA announced it was planning for 'significant workforce reductions,' reassigning employees from 'non-mission critical positions to mission-critical direct service positions to align with the Trump administration's efforts to shrink the size of federal government. The termination of leases for Social Security sites across the U.S. is listed on the DOGE website. DOGE, headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has been assigned by President Donald Trump to weed out waste, redundancy, and fraud in the federal government to save taxpayer money and reduce the national debt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'This has to stop': House Dem faces backlash for 'promoting physical violence' at DOGE protest
A Democratic congressman is facing heat from conservatives on social media after promoting the idea of a "street fight" at a protest pushing back against Elon Musk's recent efforts to slash government waste through the newly created DOGE office. "This will be a congressional fight, a constitutional fight, a legal fight, and on days like this a street fight, yes we will stand," Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who has represented Maryland's 7th Congressional District since 2020, said at a rally in Baltimore on Monday outside the Social Security Office. Mfume, who was elected to fill the seat of the late Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, added that DOGE stands for "the department of government evil." Conservatives on social media were quick to criticize Mfume. They accused him of inciting violence and wondered aloud why more media outlets weren't picking up the comments. 'Doge Boys': Dems Fume Over Spending Cut Spree At Rally Outside Trump's Next Potential Target "A 'street fight' to stop cuts to wasteful spending?" GOP Sen. Mike Lee posted on X. "Those are fighting words. And they're not honorable words." Read On The Fox News App "Remember when Trump pumped his fist and said fight after someone almost blew his brains out and the press claimed it was a call to violence?" Red State writer Bonchie posted on X. "Meanwhile…" "You can almost hear the Democrat party's 31% approval rating slide further down a hill with clips like this," Republican communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X. "Not only are Democrats openly promoting political violence, they're promoting political violence over funding trans surgeries in South America." Meet The Young Team Of Software Engineers Slashing Government Waste At Doge: Report "WATCH: @RepKweisiMfume (D-MD) riles his supporters up for a 'street fight' against President Trump's agenda on rooting out government waste and corruption," the Trump White House's rapid response team posted on X. "So @realDonaldTrump, what's the plan for dealing with Congressional members who are inciting violence?" Women For America First Executive Director Kylie Jane Kremer posted on X. " This has to stop & there should be consequences for any MOC who continues to do this." "Dems calling for a 'street fight," the American Firearms Association posted on X. "Never give up your firearms because we all know these Communist Dems are thirsty for blood!" In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Mfume spokesperson said, "Congressman Mfume was talking about going neighbor to neighbor and person to person to fight to win the hearts, minds, and souls of disaffected voters who didn't participate in the last election or who are turned off by the current process." "He believes everybody needs to be engaged and you have to be able to fight where people are to talk with them and to get them engaged and bring them back to the fold." The spokesperson added that Mfume is "not opposed to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse." "He is the Ranking Member of the United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations and that has been a focus of his bipartisan work alongside Subcommittee Chair Pete Sessions for the last two years. Congressman Mfume supports many things to make government run better, including ending cost overruns at the Department of Defense, tackling the underworld of fraud and improper payments associated with government spending, and establishing a scorecard within agencies which measures their ability to curb waste – he has worked with at least a dozen inspector generals on these issues." The Trump administration appears primed to target the Social Security Administration as part of its DOGE efforts, Fox News Digital previously reported, prompting strong pushback from Democrats who have largely opposed DOGE, arguing it represents a constitutional crisis and a threat to democracy. "We have one simple message, which is: Elon Musk, keep your hands off our Social Security," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told the crowd in Baltimore. Maxine Waters, House Dems Ripped For 'Unhinged' Clash With Security Guard At Education Dept "Over the last 21 days, we have seen Elon Musk conducting illegal raids on federal agencies with his DOGE crew," the senator said. "This is a recipe for corruption by the DOGE boys." Musk and other Republicans have argued that a significant amount of waste exists in the federal entitlement system and pushed back on the accusation that legitimate benefits will be taken away. "At this point, I am 100% certain that the magnitude of the fraud in federal entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Disability, etc) exceeds the combined sum of every private scam you've ever heard by FAR," Musk recently posted on X. "It's not even close." "On no planet does @DOGE want to take away anyone's Social Security check," Sen. Lee posted on X. "And on no planet is violence warranted by what @DOGE is actually trying to do—stop waste, fraud, and abuse in government." Musk responded to Lee's post by saying, "Yeah, I can't emphasize this enough! The goal of auditing the Social Security Administration is to stop the extreme levels of fraud taking place, so that it remains solvent and protects the social security checks of honest Americans!" Fox News Digital previously reported that, according to Just Facts, a nonprofit research institute, SSA disbursed roughly $2 billion in fraudulent or improper payments in 2022, which it calculated was enough "to pay 89,947 retired workers the average annual old-age benefit of $21,924 for 2023." Fox News Digital's Aubrie Spady contributed to this reportOriginal article source: 'This has to stop': House Dem faces backlash for 'promoting physical violence' at DOGE protest
Fox News
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
'This has to stop': House Dem faces backlash for 'promoting physical violence' at DOGE protest
A Democratic congressman is facing heat from conservatives on social media after promoting the idea of a "street fight" at a protest pushing back against Elon Musk's recent efforts to slash government waste through the newly created DOGE office. "This will be a congressional fight, a constitutional fight, a legal fight, and on days like this a street fight, yes we will stand," Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who has represented Maryland's 7th Congressional District since 2020, said at a rally in Baltimore on Monday outside the Social Security Office. Mfume, who was elected to fill the seat of the late Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, added that DOGE stands for "the department of government evil." Conservatives on social media were quick to criticize Mfume. They accused him of inciting violence and wondered aloud why more media outlets weren't picking up the comments. "A 'street fight' to stop cuts to wasteful spending?" GOP Sen. Mike Lee posted on X. "Those are fighting words. And they're not honorable words." "Remember when Trump pumped his fist and said fight after someone almost blew his brains out and the press claimed it was a call to violence?" Red State writer Bonchie posted on X. "Meanwhile…" "You can almost hear the Democrat party's 31% approval rating slide further down a hill with clips like this," Republican communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X. "Not only are Democrats openly promoting political violence, they're promoting political violence over funding trans surgeries in South America." "WATCH: @RepKweisiMfume (D-MD) riles his supporters up for a 'street fight' against President Trump's agenda on rooting out government waste and corruption," the Trump White House's rapid response team posted on X. "So @realDonaldTrump, what's the plan for dealing with Congressional members who are inciting violence?" Women For America First Executive Director Kylie Jane Kremer posted on X. " This has to stop & there should be consequences for any MOC who continues to do this." "Dems calling for a 'street fight," the American Firearms Association posted on X. "Never give up your firearms because we all know these Communist Dems are thirsty for blood!" In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Mfume spokesperson said, "Congressman Mfume was talking about going neighbor to neighbor and person to person to fight to win the hearts, minds, and souls of disaffected voters who didn't participate in the last election or who are turned off by the current process." "He believes everybody needs to be engaged and you have to be able to fight where people are to talk with them and to get them engaged and bring them back to the fold." The spokesperson added that Mfume is "not opposed to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse." "He is the Ranking Member of the United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations and that has been a focus of his bipartisan work alongside Subcommittee Chair Pete Sessions for the last two years. Congressman Mfume supports many things to make government run better, including ending cost overruns at the Department of Defense, tackling the underworld of fraud and improper payments associated with government spending, and establishing a scorecard within agencies which measures their ability to curb waste – he has worked with at least a dozen inspector generals on these issues." The Trump administration appears primed to target the Social Security Administration as part of its DOGE efforts, Fox News Digital previously reported, prompting strong pushback from Democrats who have largely opposed DOGE, arguing it represents a constitutional crisis and a threat to democracy. "We have one simple message, which is: Elon Musk, keep your hands off our Social Security," Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told the crowd in Baltimore. "Over the last 21 days, we have seen Elon Musk conducting illegal raids on federal agencies with his DOGE crew," the senator said. "This is a recipe for corruption by the DOGE boys." Musk and other Republicans have argued that a significant amount of waste exists in the federal entitlement system and pushed back on the accusation that legitimate benefits will be taken away. "At this point, I am 100% certain that the magnitude of the fraud in federal entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Disability, etc) exceeds the combined sum of every private scam you've ever heard by FAR," Musk recently posted on X. "It's not even close." "On no planet does @DOGE want to take away anyone's Social Security check," Sen. Lee posted on X. "And on no planet is violence warranted by what @DOGE is actually trying to do—stop waste, fraud, and abuse in government." Musk responded to Lee's post by saying, "Yeah, I can't emphasize this enough! The goal of auditing the Social Security Administration is to stop the extreme levels of fraud taking place, so that it remains solvent and protects the social security checks of honest Americans!" Fox News Digital previously reported that, according to Just Facts, a nonprofit research institute, SSA disbursed roughly $2 billion in fraudulent or improper payments in 2022, which it calculated was enough "to pay 89,947 retired workers the average annual old-age benefit of $21,924 for 2023."
