August 16, 2025
Dear Friends,
Ninety years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. It was the height of the Great Depression and millions of aging Americans had no safety net, no steady income, and no assurance of dignity in retirement. FDR and Congress recognized the moral duty to change that, and thus: Social Security was born.
Over the decades, this program has become one of our nation’s greatest achievements.
- Over 67 million people - more than 1 in 5 Americans - count on SSA to help pay for housing, food, utilities, medicine, and caregiving.
- More than 3.7 million New Yorkers receive benefits from SSA every month, including 168,000 Social Security recipients in NY-20 who receive $316 million in monthly benefits.
- 22 million people are lifted out of poverty each year as a result of Social Security, including nearly one million children.
Social Security is proof positive that that when we come together as a nation, we can care for one another in the most fundamental way.
Unfortunately, this critical benefit is facing dire threat from the Trump administration. During his campaign and presidency, Trump promised time and time again that he wouldn’t touch Social Security. But we know his promises aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. Earlier this year, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) set their sights on SSA, closing field offices, accessing sensitive data, changing policies regarding identity verification, and slashing jobs when SSA staffing is already at a 50-year low despite the agency serving a record number of recipients.
And as part of the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill — along with massive cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, SNAP, and other lifelines — Republicans created “Trump accounts,” which supposedly help start retirement savings for American citizens born between 12/31/2024 and 1/1/2029. In reality, this provision is a ham-fisted attempt to privatize Social Security. The Trump administration admitted as much when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called these accounts a “backdoor for privatizing Social Security.”
These are the tried-and-true tactics of this administration: slash and burn a bedrock federal program, cripple its ability to operate, then shrug their shoulders and claim the very program they ripped apart doesn’t work and was doomed from the start.
But Social Security does work. For almost a century, the American people have paid into this system. They have earned this benefit and deserve for it to be there when they need it.
That is why I, along with my Democratic colleagues, will continue to send a clear message: hands off our Social Security. I did just that this week, joining with folks across our region to celebrate 90 years of this benefit and renewing my commitment to protecting it for the next nine decades. On Monday, I joined an AARP event to speak with members and hear their stories on what Social Security means to them, and on Thursday, I marked the anniversary of Social Security at Colonie Senior Service Center and met with seniors to discuss the importance of this benefit.
In addition to my commitment to sharing your voices and insights in Washington, I’m also cosponsoring several pieces of legislation aimed at protecting SSA, including the Keeping our Field Offices Open Act, which would keep Trump from closing any SSA field or hearing offices, and the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act, which would stop DOGE and other political appointees from accessing sensitive data at the Social Security Administration.
There’s no doubt that Social Security has changed and saved lives. It has lifted millions out of poverty. It has given generations of Americans the ability to retire with security. And it has extended a helping hand to those living with disabilities or who have lost a loved one.
You’ve paid into Social Security over a lifetime of work, and you have earned these benefits. They are not a handout; they are a promise — a promise we must keep. I won’t stop fighting to strengthen Social Security so that it is there for you and your loved ones for many generations to come.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
Over these last few months, we've seen increased ICE activity in our district and across the nation. My office and I have heard from many of you seeking information and resources on how to respond and protect your loved ones and neighbors.
The first thing is to be informed and know your rights, which is why earlier this week, I hosted an informational webinar to assist those with questions about what to do when witnessing or interacting with ICE.
I was joined by Lauren DesRosiers, Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at Albany Law School, who gave a stellar, detailed presentation with steps, resources, and recommendations on the rights that are afforded to all.
You can view that hour-long webinar on my website at Tonko.house.gov/know-your-rights or on my Facebook and YouTube pages.
For more information, you can visit that same "Know Your Rights" page on my website or contact my office.
