WASHINGTON, DC – Ninety years ago, on August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the landmark Social Security Act into law to provide secure, reliable retirement benefits for older Americans.

Social Security is a social insurance program that workers pay into over the course of their lifetime through payroll contributions, also known as FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), and it provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to workers and their families.

Today, roughly 70 million Americans – including over 230,000 Rhode Islanders -- receive Social Security.

In Rhode Island, retirement beneficiaries receive an average payment of $1,972 a month, according to the latest available Social Security Administration data.

In an effort to protect Social Security, help keep local Social Security Administration (SSA) offices open, reduce wait times, and make getting monthly checks easier for Rhode Islanders who depend on them, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today helped unveil the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act.

The legislation reverses the disastrous cuts the Trump Administration has made to the Social Security Administration. If enacted, it would help keep the promise of Social Security for future generations, allow for more Social Security employees to be hired, boost funding for the program, and improve access for beneficiaries.

“Social Security is a foundational financial lifeline for millions of Americans. It helps people afford the necessities of living and have a dignified retirement. As Social Security celebrates its 90th year, we must keep its promise and ensure Social Security is strengthened and protected. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration is looking to downsize Social Security and seems intent on making it harder for seniors to access the benefits they earned. This bill would reverse declining funding and SSA staffing while prioritizing customer service for taxpayers. It would help strengthen the social safety net and ensure Rhode Islanders get the best possible customer service from the Social Security Administration,” said Senator Reed.

The measure is being introduced by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT). In addition to Reed, other Senate cosponsors include: Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Angus King (I-ME), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

Despite Social Security’s success, the Trump administration has forced over 7,000 workers out at the SSA, closed field offices throughout the country, required in-person office visits to receive benefits, limited access to a live operator when Americans call the 1-800 number for Social Security benefits, and issued false statements designed to undermine the confidence that the American people have in this life-saving program. Adding insult to injury, Trump has given the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) staff unfettered access to Americans’ most sensitive private information.

Billionaire members of President Trump’s cabinet have systematically sought to weaken public confidence in Social Security by repeatedly alleging outright falsehoods and trumped up charges of widespread fraud. Trump’s former DOGE czar Elon Musk attempted to falsely smear the transparent Social Security system as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”

Echoing Musk, President Trump used a primetime speech to Congress to falsely assert that many people as old as 150 are fraudulently receiving Social Security benefits.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated that only “fraudsters” would complain about missing a monthly Social Security check, and that most people wouldn’t mind if the federal government skipped a Social Security payment.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described an investment provision of Trump’s tax bill as “a backdoor for privatizing Social Security.”

The Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act would reverse Trump’s cuts to Social Security and rebuild the Social Security Administration by:

  • Protecting and improving Americans’ access to Social Security offices — prohibiting closures, relocations and service reductions, reversing Trump’s layoffs, and ensuring Americans can speak to real people to get their benefits.
  • Increasing funding by $5 billion to improve customer service, modernize technology and reduce backlogs.
  • Restoring assistance for vulnerable and disabled people to access their benefits.
  • Safeguarding Americans’ data and stopping Trump’s politicization of Social Security; and
  • Removing DOGE’s authority and calling for an independent investigation into DOGE’s actions at SSA.

The legislation is endorsed by several organizations, including: Social Security Work; AFSCME; Alliance for Retired Americans; Center for Living & Working; American Association of People with Disabilities; Justice in Aging; and National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Rhode Island is currently home to five SSA field offices and one location for the Office of Hearings Operations (Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, Woonsocket).

The Social Security Administration help number is 1-800-772-1213. To find the nearest SSA office and for office hours, visit the SSA field office locator at:https://www.ssa.gov/locator/