Social Security
For 90 years, the Federal Government has kept a sacred promise to all Americans: if they contribute to Social Security with each and every paycheck, they would be able to retire with dignity. It is Congress' responsibility to keep that promise and to safeguard Social Security for all Americans. Congress must also ensure the benefits keep up with Americans' expenses – today, tomorrow, and forever.
As the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, Rep. Larson is leading the charge to not just protect but enhance Social Security.
Fighting the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Social Security
For its entire history, Social Security has never missed a payment. But now, the Trump Administration has put the Social Security Administration squarely in their sights. Their 'DOGE' is cutting 7,000 staff from an already understaffed agency. They have taken aim at the agency’s phone service. They have closed regional offices and threatened to close field offices, including the Torrington field office that serves Northwest Connecticut. Unvetted ‘DOGE’ staffers are combing through Americans’ confidential records at the Social Security Administration, including Social Security numbers, income histories, and medical records. The Administration even announced they would take the cruel step of withholding entire checks to recover money from beneficiaries who were overpaid, even when the agency was at fault.
Congressman Larson has led the fight to push back against the Administration’s attacks on Americans’ hard-earned benefits. He introduced the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act to stop field office closures and the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act to bar political appointees and special government employees like Elon Musk and his ‘DOGE’ from accessing Americans’ sensitive data. He worked with Reps. Dwight Evans (PA-03), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Lois Frankel (FL-22) to introduce the Claws Off Social Security Act to cap the amount the Administration can withhold to recover accidental no-fault overpayments at 10%. He also introduced a Resolution of Inquiry to compel the Trump Administration to provide Congress with information on ‘DOGE’ activities and plans at the Social Security Administration, and called out Republicans who failed to bring in Elon Musk to get answers. He led more than 150 of his colleagues in demanding a halt to the Administration’s plans to gut Social Security.
His actions have led to real results: the Administration walked back their initial plans to cut phone service and close field offices. They also announced they would lower the default withholding rate for accidental, no-fault overpayments from 100% to 50%. Congressman Larson will continue to champion Social Security and hold the Administration accountable for their efforts to weaken the system.
Enhancing Social Security
Congress hasn’t acted to comprehensively enhance benefits in more than 50 years. This is unacceptable.
Rep. Larson has been the leading voice in the call to expand Social Security benefits for all seniors. Since 2015, he has introduced Congress’ leading Social Security proposal, with hundreds of Democratic cosponsors. His legislation would fulfill Rosevelt’s promise and ensure seniors can retire into dignity with the benefits they deserve. Rep. Larson’s work has been supported by the AFL-CIO, SEIU, Alliance for Retired Americans, Social Security Works, Committee to Protect and Preserve Social Security and other leading organizations dedicated to supporting Social Security and lifting seniors and workers. In 2023, Rep. Larson received the inaugural “Visionary Award” from the Harkin Institute in recognition of this work.
Rep. Larson is now working with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to introduce legislation that will united Americans around improving benefits, not slashing them:
“We as House Democrats, led by John Larson, are determined to protect and strengthen Social Security for the American people, keeping FDR’s promise of conquering that frontier of financial insecurity…. That’s what we should be doing here in the United States Congress, not attacking the social safety net.”
-House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
He also cofounded the Expand Social Security Caucus with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and over 150 members of Congress.
Leading the Fight Against Benefit Cuts
In the 118th Congress, Republicans in Congress had a plan: Pass a so-called “fiscal commission” which would have the power to fast-track cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and the federal workforce behind closed doors. During committee consideration of the proposal, Republicans rejected amendments that would have prevented the commission from proposing Social Security cuts.
Rep. Larson immediately recognized the commission for what it was: a threat to the benefits that 70 million Americans rely on to help make ends meet. He leapt into action and successfully mobilized his colleagues and outside organizations to oppose this plan and raise the alarm to the American people.
Originally cited as a priority for House Speaker Mike Johnson in his first speech upon taking office, this legislation died at the end of the 118th Congress without passing the House.
Fully Funding the Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has an administrative budget of less than one percent of the agency’s total budget.
This level of funding is unsustainable and has generated a customer service crisis that the Trump Administration has only worsened. Since 2010, the number of Social Security beneficiaries has increased by approximately 26 percent as the baby boom generation ages. Yet, over the same period, SSA’s administrative funding for basic operations fell by approximately 21 percent, after accounting for inflation. In 2022, SSA’s staffing reached a 25-year low. This has resulted in applicants and beneficiaries facing harmful new delays in many customer service areas.
Social Security, an earned benefit, is one thing the American people should be able to count on. Congressman Larson led 122 of his colleagues in a bipartisan call for Republican leadership to fully fund the Social Security Administration so the agency can hire staff, modernize technology, and reduce backlogs.
More on Social Security
A proposed fiscal commission to fast-track deficit reduction measures, already under attack from the right, also faces a stepped-up assault from the left.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) was joined by labor leaders at the U.S. Capitol to oppose the Fiscal Commission Act, Republican legislation recently advanced out of the House Budget Committee that would create a commission with the power to fast-track cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and the federal workforce behind closed doors.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against Republican legislation that claims to address our nation’s border security and improve Social Security but fails to address either issue.
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after House Republicans on the Budget Committee advanced H.R. 5779, legislation that would create a fast-track commission designed to cut Social Security. Earlier today, Rep.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) spoke on the House Floor in opposition to H.R. 5779 ahead of the House Budget Committee's markup on the legislation today. H.R.
Regardless of their political persuasion, most Americans agree that Social Security should be protected in the face of a looming funding shortfall.
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees is echoing calls from nearly 120 lawmakers for Congress to reject a proposed fiscal commission that would bypass elected leadership and make recommendations to slash vital federal programs and government services.
Decrying Republican plans for "ripping away Social Security from seniors behind closed doors" via a so-called fiscal commission, more than half of U.S. House Democrats on Thursday urged congressional leaders to scrap plans to fast-track the controversial panel.