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Category: National

  • Larson Applauds Court Ruling to Restore Staff and Services atthe Department of Education

    Larson Applauds Court Ruling to Restore Staff and Services atthe Department of Education

    The following article was originally published on Rep. John B Larson’s website:

    East Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after a federal judge halted the Trump Administration’s illegal efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, ordering the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminated staff. In April, Larson and 192 House Democrats submitted an amicus brief in support of the Department of Education and its programs. 

    “Today’s decision is a victory for parents, students, and educators across the country,” said Larson. “In Connecticut alone, the Department of Education supports 88,000 children with disabilities and helps 63,000 students afford a college education through Pell Grants. These essential programs were put at risk by the President’s reckless executive order allowing Elon Musk and his ‘DOGE’ to make broad cuts with no oversight or accountability. President Trump has no authority to shut down the Department of Education on his own – only Congress can do that. I joined 192 House Democrats and 21 state Attorneys General to fight this illegal order, including Connecticut’s own William Tong, who continues to lead the fight against this Administration in court. If they want to dismantle the Department of Education, the Trump Administration must come before Congress and explain their plan for the future of our nation’s schools in the full light of day. Congress is a coequal branch of government, and we will have the final say.”  

    In Connecticut, the Department of Education’s programs fund:  

    • $156 million for Title I schools that serve 183,000 students  
    • $286 million for Pell Grants that support 63,000 students to be able to afford a college education  
    • $174 million that supports the 88,000 students with disabilities across Connecticut 

    Rep. Larson is a cosponsor of Rep. Jahana Hayes’ Department of Education Protection Act to ensure federal funding is not used to downsize or restructure the Department. He was one of 192 House Democrats who filed an amicus brief in court in support of the multi-state lawsuit opposing President Trump’s order to dismantle these programs. 

  • Larson Statement on Social Security Administration Backing Off Plans to Cut Phone Services

    Larson Statement on Social Security Administration Backing Off Plans to Cut Phone Services

    From the website of Congressman John Larson:

    Washington, D.C. – Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Social Security Administration (SSA) pared back plans to cut phone services.  

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been coming after Social Security to pay for new tax breaks for the wealthy, but the American people are speaking up to tell them, ‘Hands off!’” said Larson. “While this news is a win for the 10,000 Baby Boomers a day who become eligible for Social Security, we must continue to vociferously hold Trump, Musk, and their ‘DOGE’ accountable for all the chaos, confusion, and damage they have created. The agency has not published any details about how they will decide who is ineligible to apply for benefits or change their direct deposit over the phone. Elon Musk and Donald Trump will not stop trying to dismantle the Social Security Administration as they work to slash benefits and privatize the system. Under their leadership, the Social Security website is crashing and wait times are skyrocketing, as they gut the SSA workforce and close field and hearing offices. Elon Musk is still after $2 trillion in cuts to pay for more tax breaks for the wealthy, and Social Security is still his ‘key target.’ Democrats will not back down from this fight to defend Americans’ hard-earned benefits from these attacks.” 

    After these planned cuts first came to light, Members of Congress and Americans from across the country spoke out in opposition. When SSA announced they would delay plans to cut phone services for retired worker benefit claims or direct deposit changes until April 14th, Ranking Member Larson called for them to scrap their plans altogether.