Thousand Oaks, CA – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley held a press conference outside the Thousand Oaks Social Security office to denounce the dangerous and ongoing attacks on Social Security by Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Below are Congresswoman Brownley’s remarks as prepared:
“Thank you so much for being here – and thank you for showing up.
“We’re here today to say something loud and clear: Hands off our Social Security!
“Like so many communities across the country, we are coming together to stand up and speak out. Why? Because Donald Trump and Republicans are coming after one of the most trusted, effective, and essential programs in American history.
“And we’re not going to let that happen.
“We’re standing outside this Social Security office in Thousand Oaks — because this place, and the public servants who work here, represent more than a building. They represent a promise. A promise that after a lifetime of hard work, you can retire with dignity. That our veterans will be cared for. That people with disabilities won’t be left behind. That working families will have some stability in an unstable world. That promise is under attack.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to dismantle Social Security from the inside out — and they are using their so-called ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ to do it. Let’s call DOGE what it really is – the Department of Greed and Evil.
“They have already fired 7,000 Social Security workers – the biggest single cut in the program’s history. They are shutting down offices and crashing the Social Security website. And when seniors and people with disabilities face issues with their benefits, they’re telling them to just go online.
“But let me be crystal clear: When you make it harder to access earned benefits, that’s a cut.
“And we won’t stand for it.
“This isn’t about politics – this is about people. More than 70 million Americans – including over 136,000 right here in Ventura County and the Conejo Valley – rely on Social Security every single day.
“It’s how people pay rent. It’s how they buy groceries. It’s how they get their prescriptions and stay afloat. Without Social Security, one in three Americans would be pushed into poverty.
“This program is not a handout. It’s a lifeline. And it works.
“So why are they trying to destroy it? Because they don’t believe in the promise. They don’t believe in the people. And they don’t believe in our democracy.
“But we do.
“We’re fighting for what’s right. We’re fighting for the people who built this country. We’re fighting for our democracy – and we’re fighting for the promise of Social Security.
“We will fight back. We will stand up. And we will protect Social Security – no matter what. We will fight — and together, we will win!
“Thank you, and let’s go win this fight!”
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