Press Releases

Ahead of the 90th anniversary of Social Security, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) hosted a roundtable discussion at the Seniors Resource Center, bringing together local leaders, advocates, and service providers to discuss the program’s legacy, its future, and the urgent need to defend it from ongoing attacks.

The discussion comes as Trump’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) has already slashed an estimated 7,000 Social Security Administration positions, pushing staffing to a decades low and leaving beneficiaries facing longer waits, delayed claims, and diminished access. At the same time, costs continue to climb due to Trump’s trade war, making it difficult for seniors who live on a fixed-income to afford basic necessities. 

“For nearly a century, Social Security has been the single greatest investment we’ve made to lift seniors and people with disabilities out of poverty,” said Pettersen. “But our seniors are struggling to put a roof over their heads and pay for their basic medications as Trump’s disastrous bill and his reckless trade war cause costs to skyrocket. And not only that, he’s decimated our federal workforce, including Social Security, leaving seniors unable to get a hold of anyone for help and delaying the checks they depend on to make ends meet. I’m more committed than ever to making sure we protect this critical lifeline and support the people who spend their entire lives paying into the system so they can retire with dignity.”

Pettersen has championed legislation – including the Social Security Fairness Act – to strengthen Social Security and pressed the Trump Administration for answers on how planned reductions in force (RIFs) will affect staffing levels, service backlogs, and Coloradans’ ability to access the benefits they’ve earned.

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