April 04, 2025

Senate Democrats Propose Amendments to Protect Social Security

During Senate Vote-a-rama, Democrats fight back against cuts to Social Security services, benefits; privatization; DOGE data access

Senate Democrats launched Social Security War Room earlier this week

Washington, D.C. – In the midst of the Trump administration’s efforts to gut Social Security, Senate Democrats have proposed numerous amendments to protect Americans’ Social Security during tonight’s consideration of the Republican budget resolution in the Senate. The amendments mark the latest push from Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to fight back against Trump, Musk, and DOGE’s attacks on Social Security.

Senate Democrats proposed new amendments to:

  • Protect against disruptions to and reductions in Americans’ Social Security benefits.
  • Prohibit cuts to Social Security Administration services, including preventing field office closures and preserving phone service.
  • Reduce wait times for Americans trying to access Social Security Administration services.
  • Protect Americans’ private data at the Social Security Administration from Elon Musk’s DOGE.
  • Reverse DOGE’s existing cuts to the Social Security Administration.
  • Prevent the privatization of Social Security.
  • Prohibit cuts to Social Security benefits. 
  • Sustain and expand Social Security benefits.

Specific amendments include:

  • An amendment filed by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Coons (D-De.), John Hickenlooper (D-Co.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) to sustain and expand Social Security.
  • An amendment filed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to prevent the privatization of Social Security.
  • An amendment filed by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to protect against reductions in Social Security Administration customer service.

President Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE have gutted the Social Security Administration in recent weeks, creating chaos and threatening Americans’ benefits. Last month, the Social Security Administration announced plans to cut about 7,000 employees, or about 12% of its workforce. 78% of these employees were working in field offices, directly serving Social Security recipients. SSA is reportedly planning to enact even deeper cuts to the agency’s workforce, crippling Americans’ ability to access their benefits.

DOGE has also tried to significantly limit Americans’ access to services by shutting down regional offices and requiring new and existing beneficiaries to go in-person or online for a variety of services, including applying for benefits and changing direct deposit and other banking information—posing a challenge to many seniors who rely on benefits.

Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room is a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attack on Americans’ Social Security. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about Republicans’ agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

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