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Legislative bills

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill Introduces Legislation to Protect Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and Veterans Benefits

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) has introduced the Protecting Retirement and Health Benefits for Working Families Act to safeguard critical federal benefits and services from President Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) proposals. The legislation aims to ensure that any planned staffing cuts or regional office closures by DOGE will not harm the benefits Americans rely on, particularly those in New Jersey.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Protecting Retirement and Health Benefits for Families Act requires several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service, and Department of Housing and Urban Development, to certify to Congress that any planned staffing cuts or regional office closures will not impact the provision of benefits or financial assistance to Americans.
  • The bill also requires the Inspector General at each of those agencies to conduct a study, within one year, of any of these enacted certifications to ensure that layoffs/closures haven't harmed benefit receipt.
  • The legislation aims to prevent the Trump Administration from gutting critical federal agencies without Congressional authorization, particularly after attempting to enact mass staffing layoffs, phone service cuts, and local and regional office closures.
  • The Social Security Administration has enacted, or attempted to enact, mass staffing layoffs, phone service cuts, and local and regional office closures, with about 7,000 jobs, or 12% of its entire workforce, cut since January.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs attempted to cut billions of dollars in contracts, but was stopped after Democrats and veterans service organizations warned that it would hurt critical veterans' health services.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services granted DOGE access to agency systems and technologies after Musk claimed "this is where the big money fraud is happening."
  • Washington Republicans are currently looking to cut $880 billion from Medicaid to fund trillions in tax breaks for billionaires.
  • HHS Secretary Kennedy has announced plans to cut 10,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services, including 300 at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  • DOGE is reportedly considering cutting the Department of Housing and Urban Development's staff by as much as 50% and cutting half of the department's regional offices.

Statistics:

  • 7,000 Social Security Administration jobs, or 12% of its entire workforce, cut since January.
  • $880 billion proposed to be cut from Medicaid to fund trillions in tax breaks for billionaires.
  • 10,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services, including 300 at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, set to be cut by HHS Secretary Kennedy.
  • 50% of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's staff and half of the department's regional offices reportedly set to be cut by DOGE.

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives -- Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
  • Contify.com
  • MIL-OSI USA News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/)

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