U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is introducing legislation that seeks to bolster funding and resources for Social Security.
His bill, dubbed the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act, would reverse cuts made by the Trump administration to the Social Security Administration (SSA). In addition to reversing the cuts, the bill would:
- Protect and improve 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.
- Increase funding by $5 billion to improve customer service, modernize technology and reduce backlogs.
- Restore assistance for vulnerable and disabled people to access their benefits.
- Safeguard Americans’ data and stopping Trump’s politicization of Social Security; and
- Remove DOGE’s authority and call for an independent investigation into DOGE’s actions at SSA.
The legislation was unveiled in concert with the 90th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act into law.
“As Americans celebrate this milestone, it’s more important than ever to remember the vigilant defense that’s required to hold on to these earned benefits – Trump and his Republican allies have made that crystal clear,” Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said. “This legislation is a critical first step to ensure Americans get gold-standard customer service for their earned benefits and undo the damage that DOGE has inflicted at Social Security.”
Cosponsors of the bill include Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Angus King (I-ME), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
Wyden said that the Trump administration has forced over 7,000 workers out at the SSA, closed field offices throughout the country, required in-person office visits to receive benefits, limited access to a live operator when Americans call the 1-800 number for Social Security benefits, and undermined the confidence that the American people have in this program. Further, Trump has given the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) staff access to Americans’ private information.
The cuts come at a bad time, Wyden added, as SSA was already under-funded and under-staffed.
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, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and New York Legal Assistance Group.