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Standing Up to Trump and ‘DOGE’

Since he took office, President Trump's actions have created uncertainty and chaos, raising household costs, eroding civil rights, and harming the benefits and programs Americans rely on. The Republican budget Donald Trump signed into law last month will kick millions of Americans off their Medicaid coverage and SNAP nutrition assistance, and President Trump’s own Treasury Secretary admitted it was also a ‘back-door’ plan to privatize Social Security. His Administration is prioritizing the needs of the ultra-wealthy over middle-class families and our seniors. 

Rep. Larson is using every tool to push back against attacks from the Trump Administration – legislation, Congressional oversight, and litigation in the courts – and will not stop being a voice for his constituents in Washington. If you or your loved ones have been impacted by the Trump Administration’s actions, please share your story here. You can follow pending litigation against President Trump's actions here. 

  • When Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon tried to illegally take $54 million from Connecticut school districts and nonprofits – funding for after school programs, college and career counseling, and mental health services – he and our entire Congressional delegation demanded they reverse course. The Administration backed down, and organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford saw their funding restored. 

  • Amid reports of masked ICE agents taking workers from a car wash in Southington and detaining an Afghan visa holder in an unmarked car in East Hartford, Rep. Larson spoke up and cosponsored the No Secret Police Act, to ensure transparency and accountability from federal law enforcement. He joined with his colleagues to support the No Masks for ICE Act, hearing the calls of Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Senate Democrats. 

Rep. Larson is taking action with his Democratic colleagues in Congress to hold the Trump Administration accountable. 

  • Social Security: Rep. Larson has opposed every attempt from the Trump Administration to cut and privatize Social Security and prevent Americans from accessing their hard-earned benefits.  

    • Rep. Larson prevented the closure of Social Security field offices, including one ‘DOGE’ had targeted in Torrington.  

    • Rep. Larson stood with groups like the AARP to call out the Trump Administration’s attempts to cut phone service for seniors and disabled workers, and they backed down. 

    • Rep. Larson called out the Trump Administration’s attempt to claw back entire Social Security benefit checks and helped introduce legislation to prevent it. 

    • Rep. Larson has introduced or cosponsored: 

      • Keeping Our Field Offices Open (H.R. 1876): The Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act would put a moratorium on the closure of Social Security Field Offices for the rest of the Trump Administration. 

      • Protecting Americans' Social Security Data (H.R. 1877): The Protecting Americans' Social Security Data Act would block Elon Musk and his cronies' access to sensitive beneficiary data and strengthen oversight and civil penalties for any privacy and disclosure violations of Social Security beneficiaries' personal information. 

      • Compelling the Trump Administration to provide answers about 'DOGE' activity at SSA (H.Res.195): The Resolution of Inquiry would compel President Trump to disclose to Congress information about 'DOGE' activity at SSA and any plans to close field offices or cut staff. 

      • Protecting Seniors from Losing Their Social Security Checks (H.R. 2999): The Claws Off Social Security Act would set the default withholding rate to recover accidental Social Security overpayments at 10%. The Trump Administration had previously announced it would withhold all of a senior's Social Security check to recover an accidental, no-fault overpayment. 

  • Immigration Enforcement: Law enforcement plays an essential role in keeping our communities safe, including upholding our immigration laws. However, every individual must have the right to due process, and law enforcement must act humanely and be subject to oversight and accountability. Rep. Larson is disturbed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Connecticut and across the nation that have been conducted by masked agent wearing civilian clothes and that have targeted nonviolent individuals and have detained and deported people without due process. Rep. Larson is fighting in Congress to ensure law enforcement is held to account and is calling out the Trump Administration’s abuses of power. If you have an encounter with ICE, it is important to know your rights. Additionally, the Trump Administration has enacted a policy allowing ICE to make arrests at schools and churches. The Connecticut State Department of Education has issued guidance for school districts to protect their students' rights in the event of interactions with ICE on school grounds. 

    • Rep. Larson called for the release of an Afghan man detained by ICE in East Hartford.  

    • Rep. Larson has cosponsored: 

      • Ensuring ICE Identification (H.R. 4176): The No Secret Police Act would require ICE agents to wear identification and not cover their faces when making arrests. 

      • Ensuring Accountability (H.R. 4004): The No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act would require ICE agents to wear identification and not cover their faces when making arrests. 

      • Protecting immigrants' access to schools and hospitals (H.R. 1061): The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would prevent immigration enforcement actions in schools, hospitals, and social service agencies. 

      • Creating Pathways to Legal Citizenship for Children (H.R. 3763): The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act would ensure that children eligible for green cards due to their status are not subject to the wait times and limits of the employment-based visa system.

  • Tariffs and Cost of Living: As a member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Rep. Larson is actively working in Congress to block President Trump’s reckless tariffs that will cost American families thousands of dollars a year. 

    • Rep. Larson has cosponsored:  

      • Preventing Cost-Raising Tariffs: The Prevent Tariff Abuse Act (H.R. 407) would block the President from using emergency powers to impose cost-raising tariffs or quotas. 

      • Fighting Against Trump's Tax Increase on Americans (H.R. 2888): The Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act would end Trump's tariffs Mexico, Canada, and other nations. It would require Congressional approval for any new tariffs. 

  • Health care and food assistance: Rep. Larson voted against the Republican Budget that kicks millions of Americans off their health care and slashes nutritional assistance for children and families across the nation. He is standing with local and state partners as he continues to fight in Congress to protect these programs and ensure families have the resources they need.  

    • Rep. Larson has cosponsored: 

      • Repealing Medicaid Cuts (H.R. 4807): The Protect Our Hospitals Act would repeal the Hospital Provider Tax reimbursement limit, which is expected to cost the State of Connecticut over $1.2 billion in Medicaid funding annually by 2031.

    • The Trump Administration canceled $500 million in federal funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in March, and 1.4 million pounds of food were kept off of pantry shelves in Connecticut, including 34 truckloads Connecticut Foodshare was set to receive and distribute this summer. Rep. Larson is demanding answers and sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Rollins demanding the reinstatement of TEFAP and the Administration’s plan to mitigate food insecurity and ensure food banks continued to operate effectively. He visited a Connecticut Foodshare mobile pantry to discuss the impact of the program and call for Congressional action to support food banks. 

  • Education: As a former teacher, Rep. Larson knows how important education is for our nation’s children and will always stand up to support educators. 

    • Rep. Larson has cosponsored:  

      • Protecting the Department of Education (H.R. 433): The Department of Education Protection Act would protect the Department of Education by ensuring funding is not used to downsize or restructure the department.

    • When the Trump Administration froze nearly $7 billion in K-12 education and program funding, including $54 million for Connecticut, Rep. Larson sent a letter to Education Secretary McMahon and OMB Director Vought pushing back against the illegal withholding of educational funds from schools, and the funds were restored. Rep. Larson visited with a Boys and Girls Club in Hartford that benefits from this funding for their summer kickoff STEM event. 

Hearing from Constituents

Rep. Larson has hosted or taken part in events to hear from constituents about their concerns with the Trump Administration:

If you'd like to receive updates on upcoming events, you can sign up for Rep. Larson's newsletter here.

  • Public Forum at the Welles-Turner Memorial Library in Glastonbury - January 27, 2025
  • Visit to the Northend Senior Center in Hartford - January 28, 2025
  • Discussion at the Glastonbury Senior Center - January 29, 2025
  • Federal Funding 'Freeze' Forum at East Hartford Senior Center - January 30, 2025
  • Discussion about President Trump's Executive Actions at the Parker Memorial Community Center in Hartford - February 1, 2025
  • Virtual Town Hall on Facebook Live - February 9, 2025
  • Virtual Town Hall on Facebook Live - February 18, 2025
  • Town Hall in Newington - February 20, 2025
  • Virtual Town Hall on Facebook Live - March 3, 2025
  • Visit to the Cromwell Senior Center - March 18, 2025
  • Rally to Protect Medicaid at State Capitol in Hartford - March 18, 2025
  • Town Hall with Connecticut AFL-CIO - March 18, 2025
  • Town Hall in East Windsor - March 19, 2025
  • Seniors Forum in West Hartford - March 20, 2025
  • Hands Off! in Torrington at the Social Security Field Office – April 5, 2025
  • Hands Off! at the State Capitol in Hartford – April 5, 2025
  • Visit to the Parkville Senior Center in Hartford – April 16, 2025
  • Visit to Newington Senior and Disabled Center – April 17, 2025
  • Virtual Town Hall on Facebook Live with Attorney General William Tong – April 17, 2025
  • Visit to Berlin Senior Center – May 27, 2025
  • Public Forum at the West Hartford Town Hall – May 28, 2025
  • Visit to Wethersfield Senior Center – May 29, 2025
  • Virtual Meeting with CSEA SEIU Local 2001 Members on Social Security – May 29, 2025
  • No Kings at the State Capitol in Hartford – June 14, 2025
  • No Kings at Center Park in Manchester – June 14, 2025
  • Visit to East Hartford Senior Center – June 16, 2025
  • Social Security Community Conversation in New Hartford – June 18, 2025
  • Visit to Winsted Senior Center – June 18, 2025
  • Telephone Town Hall – June 18, 2025
  • Rally to Protect Medicaid and SNAP in Hartford – June 27, 2025
  • Hartford Boys and Girls Club Kickoff Event – July 28, 2025
  • Visit to Torrington Senior Center with Rep. Jahana Hayes – July 29, 2025
  • Virtual Town Hall with Attorney General William Tong – July 30, 2025
  • Visit to East Hartford Rotary Club – July 30, 2025
  • World Breastfeeding Week Event at Hartford Hospital – August 1, 2025
  • Harriott Healthcare Academy CNA Graduation Ceremony – August 1, 2025
  • Veterans Farmers’ Market in Rocky Hill – August 4, 2025
  • Visit to East Windsor Community Center – August 5, 2025
  • Visit to Intercommunity Healthcare Wellness Day – August 8, 2025
  • Visit to Rocky Hill Senior Center – August 8, 2025
  • CSEA SEIU 2001 Retirees Picnic – August 13, 2025
  • AARP Connecticut Social Security 90th Anniversary Ice Cream Social – August 14, 2025
  • Pakistani Independence Day at State Capitol – August 14, 2025
  • Medicare and Social Security Rally in Hartford – August 14, 2025
  • Public Forum on the 90th Anniversary of Social Security at East Hartford Senior Center – August 14, 2025
  • National Day of Action on Social Security Rally at Social Security Office in Middletown – August 16, 2025
  • Connecticut Foodshare Mobile Pantry Distribution in East Hartford – August 18, 2025
  • Visit to Barkhamsted Community Center – August 19, 2025  
    Gentle Love Connections Car Seat Distribution Event in Manchester – August 19, 2025 
  • Visit to Middletown Senior Center – August 20, 2025