Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) joined a call to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS), demanding answers about the impacts that mass firings, or reductions in force (RIFs), will have on casework processing for constituents. 

Casework is a crucial service provided by congressional offices for constituents to raise their concerns with tax refunds, Social Security payments, passports, and other benefits that they are owed from federal agencies. After recent layoffs, congressional caseworkers are receiving bounce-back emails and no-replies from federal agencies leaving many cases delayed and unresolved.

“My office has heard from countless seniors, families, and small businesses who can’t get anyone at the IRS or Social Security Administration to pick up the phone,” said Rep. Pettersen. “Our seniors, communities, and families rely on Social Security to put a roof over their heads, pay for their medications, and for basic needs. Any issues with these benefits can impact people’s health, safety, and wellbeing. It’s unacceptable people have been unable to get a hold of anyone to help at these taxpayer-funded agencies. The reckless destruction of our federal workforce makes it so that people cannot get access to the benefits they rely on or get answers to their questions – I’m deeply worried about the reprehensible impact on our communities but especially on our seniors who live on a fixed income. We’re here to support them and advocate for them any way that we can.”

Earlier this year, the Social Security Agency rolled out its plan to cut an estimated 7,000 jobs nationwide, raising concerns about staffing and capability of disbursing retirement and disability benefits. Additionally, the Trump administration has pushed to cut as much as 50% of staff from the IRS. These deep staffing cuts threaten to delay or disrupt critical services, leaving seniors without timely access to their benefits and taxpayers without the support they need to navigate the system.

Rep. Pettersen joined 50+ House Democrats in letters to the IRS and SSA. The full text of the letter to the IRS can be found HERE and full text of the SSA can be HERE. 

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