Republicans Turn Against Trump Over Social Security Cuts

Alaska Senators Break with GOP on Social Security Vote

Two Republican senators broke ranks with their party and President Trump last week, voting in support of a Democratic amendment aimed at reversing cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA) implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The White House / Wikimedia

Sullivan, Murkowski Support Democratic Amendment Despite Narrow Defeat

Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both representing Alaska, voted in favor of the amendment proposed by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and co-sponsored by Senator Raphael Warnock. Despite their support, the amendment narrowly failed in a 50-49 vote during Friday night's Senate session on Trump's tax and spending package. United States Senate / Wikimedia

Warnock Pledges Continued Fight for Seniors After Failed Amendment

"I co-sponsored Senator Ossoff's amendment to ban DOGE from cutting Social Security benefits. Sadly, Washington Republicans voted the amendment down. I won't stop fighting to protect Georgia seniors' hard earned benefits," Warnock wrote on X following the vote. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Budget Resolution Passes with Tax Cuts, Debt Ceiling Increase

The budget resolution, which passed early Saturday morning, aims to make Trump's first-term tax cuts permanent while authorizing an additional $1.5 trillion in tax reductions and raising the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion. Engin Akyurt / Pexels

DOGE Implements Sweeping Cuts Across Federal Agencies

Since Trump returned to office in January, the DOGE taskforce has implemented significant cuts across federal agencies, including the SSA, which provides benefits to approximately 70 million Americans. These cuts include workforce reductions, department closures, and changes to service delivery. myCountrAI on X, via AI image generation / Wikimedia

Phone Verification Services to End as New Policy Takes Effect

One controversial change taking effect April 14 will end identity verification services over the phone for many Social Security claimants, requiring in-person visits to field offices instead. This has raised particular concerns in Alaska, where geographic barriers make access to the state's three field offices difficult for many residents. Kaboompics.com / Pexels

AARP Warns of Access Barriers for Alaska's Elderly

Teresa Holt, Alaska director at the American Association of Retired People (AARP), expressed concern about the policy change: "The abrupt decision to require in-person identity verification will create unnecessary hurdles for older Americans." She added, "This is a huge barrier to accessing services, maybe even preventing them from getting the benefits they've earned." AARP / Wikimedia

Murkowski Acknowledges "Serious Shortcomings" in Budget Resolution

After the budget vote, Senator Murkowski wrote on X: "I support the extension of President Trump's tax cuts and look forward to a reconciliation measure that will boost Alaska's resource production. There are serious shortcomings within this resolution that gave me considerable pause, but overall, I recognize this is the start of a process, not the end." Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

SSA Commissioner Defends Changes as "Good Government"

Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of the SSA, defended the changes in February, stating: "Good government means finding ways to do better: The Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, is a critical part of President Trump's commitment to identifying fraud, waste, and abuse, and better ways for the government to function to support its people."

With the amendment's failure, the DOGE cuts at the Social Security Administration will remain in place. Social Security Administration / Wikimedia