The Event Commemorated the 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act, Called for Action to Defend This Lifesaving Program

Washington, D.C. – This weekend, Unrig Our Economy and Social Security Works launched Protect Our Checks – a week of action to defend Social Security from attacks by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. The kickoff event was held in honor of the upcoming 90th anniversary of Social Security in Baltimore, Maryland, where the first Social Security office was established. 

Speakers included: Senator Chris Van Hollen, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley, Professor and Real Housewives of Potomac star Dr. Wendy Osefo, Executive Vice President of AFGE Local 1923 Shelley Washington, Social Security Works President Nancy Altman, Unrig Our Economy spokesperson Saryn Francis, as well as advocates and Social Security recipients. Speakers spoke out against attempts by President Trump and Republicans in Congress to undermine Social Security, which is a lifeline for millions, all to pay for tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. 

Watch their full remarks here

See select photos of the event here

“The promise of Social Security is only as good as your ability to access those benefits. If you cannot access them, it’s an empty promise,“ said Senator Chris Van Hollen. “We’ve all seen the photos where Elon Musk proudly had a chainsaw. He took that chainsaw to the Social Security Administration and began hacking away at the patriotic, dedicated employees who work there. The results were immediate. It was very hard for anybody to get through on the phone lines. The wait times were over five hours in some cases, if you could get through at all. The website became inaccessible. The regional Social Security offices all over the country had their staff cut so that when people went to ask about their benefits, they couldn’t find anyone to answer their questions.”

“Maryland is proud to be home to the Social Security Administration that employs 10,000 dedicated public servants across the state and over 55,000 employees nationwide,“ said Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller. “For many, including some of the 1.2 million Marylanders who receive benefits, Social Security is not just a supplement; it is their main source of income. Without it, nearly 40 percent of older Marylanders would fall below the poverty line. Social Security is not a handout. It’s an earned benefit, and we must protect it—not only for today’s retirees, but for the generations to come.”

“There are hundreds of events happening all across the country to Protect Our Checks, to alert democracy so that we rise up and prevent Donald Trump and his ilk from robbing Social Security. Make no mistake – that’s what they want to do,“ said former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley. “They’ve already succeeded in robbing us of our peace of mind. But they need not rob us of our voice. They need not rob us of our ability to band together and push back.”

“We’re here doing the work. We’re not going to run, we’re standing here in solidarity,” said Executive Vice President of AFGE Local 1923 Shelley Washington. “[Social Security] is an earned benefit, so I’m standing here on behalf of all of the workers here, and letting you know that we’re working hard for you, and we’re going to continue to do so.”

“[Social Security is] the nation’s most important source of retirement income and life insurance, and it is often Americans’ only disability insurance,” said Social Security Works President Nancy Altman. “We’re here to celebrate the last 90 years and to dedicate ourselves to building on the structure that was put in place by Franklin Roosevelt 90 years ago.” 

“No matter what Republicans in DC say, Social Security is not an entitlement. It’s a payback for decades of hard work,“ said Dr. Wendy Osefo. ”Many of our loved ones got up every morning, put in a full day’s work, paid their taxes – unlike a lot of billionaires these days – and they did so with the promise that they’d one day receive the benefits they spent a lifetime contributing to. And how have Republicans thanked them? By gutting Social Security’s staff, freezing its funding, and undermining the program’s future.”

“Republican tariffs are driving up prices at the grocery store. Their bills are raising the cost of health care and electricity. They even found time to hand out more tax breaks to billionaires. And now, they want to mess with Social Security,” said Unrig Our Economy spokesperson Saryn Francis. “With over 73 million people who rely on Social Security, it’s more important now than ever before to remember that everyone on Social Security is someone, and someone who somebody knows. Many of us here either rely on Social Security or love someone who does.”

“The Republican Tax Law destroys the promises and responsibilities that the government owes us. It slashes Supplemental Security Income for families with more than one disabled child. And it does all this while giving more tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest Americans,” said Syanne Centeno-Bloom, a Social Security recipient. “Let’s be clear: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are not handouts. I worked for years for my benefits, and when my illness spiraled out of control, it’s been there to help me find my footing again.”

“Over the years, I’ve endured six recessions. I lost my job not once, but twice – during the economic downturns of 2001 and 2009. Those setbacks wiped out my savings and shook my sense of security,” said Hal Pollard, a local resident. “Today, I’m counting on Social Security. I’m hoping to retire in seven years – and like millions of Americans across this country, I deserve to know that the promise of Social Security will be kept.”

This event kicked off the Protect Our Checks Week of action, which will also include a national press call on Wednesday, August 13th featuring Senators Bernie Sanders, Ron Wyden, as well as other guest speakers, and culminate in a national day of action on August 16th with 50 grassroots rallies around the country sending a clear message: “We are ready to fight for Social Security, and we won’t back down.” 

Senator Chris Van Hollen and former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malleyaddress the audience about the importance of protecting Social Security

Photo Credit: Unrig Our Economy

Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and Executive Vice President of AFGE Local 1923 Shelley Washington pose with a proclamation from Governor Wes Moore recognizing the 90th anniversary of Social Security and the workers who have been impacted by DOGE cuts.

Photo credit: Unrig Our Economy

For more information on the national press call or the week of action, please email press@unrigoureconomy.org. 

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About Unrig Our Economy

Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.

About Social Security WorksSocial Security Works is a non-profit fighting to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—because everyone deserves to live in dignity.