Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) highlighted the need to protect Social Security as the agency plans to cut more than 7,000 employees—14 percent of its workforce—to comply with an executive order from President Trump to reduce the federal workforce.

“Social Security is a cornerstone of the American promise—a commitment that after a lifetime of hard work, every American has the right to retire with dignity and economic security,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “Yet President Trump and Elon Musk have created chaos at this agency, planning cuts and obtaining sensitive data about Americans.  It is critical that we do everything we can to protect the dignity and security of every American—especially our seniors who have spent a lifetime working hard and paying into the Social Security system to earn their benefits.”

More than 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits.  In Texas, more than 4 million people receive Social Security benefits.  In Texas’ Seventh Congressional District, 84,898 people collectively receive $160 million in monthly Social Security benefits, including 65,679 retirees, 5,699 disabled workers, 4,678 widows, 4,473 children, and 4,369 spouses.

Texas has 68 Social Security field offices that employ more than 3,300 people.  In March, Elon Musk published a list of 800 federal real estate leases on DOGE’s website that he intends to close, including 47 Social Security offices throughout the country.

In February, Congresswoman Fletcher joined her colleagues in a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson urging him to reject any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Congresswoman Fletcher is a cosponsor of the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act, H.R. 1877, to stop special government employees and political appointees, including Elon Musk, from accessing Social Security Administration (SSA) databases containing sensitive information and codify SSA data privacy requirements, strengthening civil penalties for violations.

She is also a cosponsor of Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act, H.R. 1876, to stop President Trump and Elon Musk from closing any SSA field or hearing office.