Let’s call a spade a spade. Republicans own this shutdown.

thank you!

Shout out to @alaw202.bsky.social and @socialsecurityworks.org, among others, who tirelessly fight against this nonsense.

We don't need to cut Social Security. Why? Because Social Security works!

Cutting millions in funding from the Social Security Administration puts up barriers in the form of long wait times and office closures. The Republican plan is to limit our access to our earned benefits!

Americans pay into Social Security with every paycheck.‬

‪Now the Administration is trying to take some hard-earned benefits away from older Americans.‬

‪This is an attack on Americans’ retirement.‬

Disabled seniors will lose their homes.

Disabled seniors will go bankrupt.

Disabled seniors will die.

All because Trump and his fellow billionaires don't want to pay their fair share in taxes.

Missed yesterday's briefing? Check out the video of "The Shutdown Stakes: Fighting Trump's Healthcare Cuts & Chaos" with @indivisible.org, @publiccitizen.bsky.social, @seiu.org, Groundwork Action, with special guests @delauro.house.gov and @repcasar.bsky.social

Donald Trump and Republicans have inflicted an unprecedented health care crisis on our families – and they shut down the government instead of working with Democrats to fix it.

Matt Hayward: The healthcare price hike message is very effective for a number of reasons...

Lisa Gilbert: This is the moment we should be having this Shutdown Showdown, because although a shutdown is not good, what has already been happening is worse, and we know without a shadow of a doubt that Donald Trump will continue to unmake the federal government, whether we're in a shutdown or not

Julia Tilley: I am a Mama Bear when it comes to my kid, but this is gonna impact so many other people. It is going to affect the more than 70 million people that have coverage through Medicaid!

Ezra Levin: There is a unified opposition party now in a way we haven't seen it in the 11 months since the election, and we're seeing it now not because it just magically occurred...People all over the country are pissed off, and they're letting their reps and senators know. @indivisible.org

Rep. Casar: Right now we're starting to see the beginnings of a Democratic Party that is standing up to the billionaire class and saying, no, you can't just take away our health care...and just go give it out to your friends and to your donors. Hell no to that. @repcasar.bsky.social

Rep. DeLauro: Access to quality, affordable health care is one of the most basic necessities for modern society. You can't force people to choose between paying for their kids' medication or putting food on the table or paying their rent. @delauro.house.gov

Cat Rowland: 22 million Americans are expected to see their annual healthcare costs go up by more than $1,000...1 million are expected to lose their insurance altogether. Rather than deal with these crises and bring down costs, Republicans in Congress have shut down the federal government.

The Shutdown Stakes: Fighting Trump's Healthcare Cuts & Chaos. Tune in to today's virtual briefing.

Read our full statement here: socialsecurityworks.org/trumps-lates...

It always takes less time and effort to destroy something than to build and maintain it.

By denying the system a full-time commissioner, the Trump admin is allowing Social Security to rot through sabotage and neglect.

Never in Social Security’s 90-year history has a commissioner held a second job. Bisiginano’s new role will leave a leadership vacuum at the top of the agency, especially since the Republican Senate hasn’t even confirmed a deputy commissioner.

The Trump administration has already plunged Social Security into crisis by pushing out thousands of the most experienced, knowledgeable workers.

Now, Bisignano’s divided attention will create a bottleneck that makes the inevitable problems that arise even harder to correct.

BREAKING: Donald Trump has announced that Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano will also serve as CEO of the IRS.

Bisignano isn’t even qualified for the job he has, but Trump is giving him another one.

Never in Social Security’s 90-year history has a commissioner held a second job.

But it always takes less time and effort to destroy something than to build and maintain it.

The Trump administration is allowing Social Security to rot through sabotage and neglect.

Another cost of the Trump shutdown:

"If the shutdown continues and more workers aren’t brought back within a month, the Social Security Administration’s work of calculating the percentage adjustment and notifying recipients of their benefit increases could be delayed."

Federal employees are not bargaining chips. They are veterans, caregivers, and neighbors who serve their country and fellow Americans every day.

They deserve stability and respect, not pink slips and political games.