Standing Up to Trump and ‘DOGE’

As the leading Democrat on the powerful Social Security Subcommittee, he spoke up to stop Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ from closing Social Security field offices, including one in Torrington, and worked to block their plan to cut phone services for elderly and disabled Americans and enact the largest ever cuts to Social Security disability.  

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. 

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 led efforts to push back against the Trump Administration’s plans to enact the largest ever cut to Social Security disability. 

• 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.