WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2025): The Nationwide Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Affiliation of Individuals with Disabilities (AAPD), Deaf Equality, the Nationwide Committee to Protect Social Safety and Medicare, and the Massachusetts Senior Motion Council, together with particular person plaintiffs, and co-counsel Brown Goldstein & Levy LLP and Justice in Getting old filed a federal lawsuit right now towards the Social Safety Administration (SSA), the newly shaped Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), Appearing Commissioner Leland Dudek, DOGE Appearing Administrator Amy Gleason, and Elon Musk in his de facto function as head of DOGE. The lawsuit alleges that latest mass staffing reductions, insurance policies requiring people to hunt providers in individual at subject places of work, and the elimination of crucial places of work inside the SSA unlawfully hurt People with disabilities and older adults who depend on Social Safety providers.
Filed in the USA District Courtroom for the District of Columbia, the grievance seeks emergency declaratory and injunctive aid to halt the dismantling of the SSA’s infrastructure, together with the abrupt closures of the Workplace of Civil Rights and Equal Alternative (OCREO) and the Workplace of Transformation (OT), and the termination of seven,000 SSA staff.
“The Social Safety Administration is being gutted with out regard to current regulation, with out transparency, and with none apparent plan as to how providers will probably be supplied to candidates and beneficiaries going ahead,” mentioned Mark Riccobono, President of the Nationwide Federation of the Blind. “Many blind People depend on Social Safety advantages for his or her survival and for the help of their households. Given the expertise and transportation challenges many people face, the dramatic discount in power and the brand new so-called anti-fraud necessities will trigger important hardship or deny entry to advantages altogether. In probably the most extreme circumstances, these cuts might endanger folks’s very lives. The Nationwide Federation of the Blind helps higher authorities effectivity and acknowledges that a lot could be accomplished to enhance the SSA, however cautious planning and collaboration with blind People and different incapacity advocates are the fitting methods to deal with reform.”
On the middle of the lawsuit is the allegation that the federal authorities has undertaken a marketing campaign to “reform” the SSA by gutting the very infrastructure designed to make sure equity, accessibility, and well timed supply of advantages.
“People with disabilities deserve a functioning Social Safety system, not arbitrary shutdowns and inaccessible service,” mentioned AAPD President and CEO Maria City. “We filed this lawsuit as a result of disabled People are already struggling—and with out pressing courtroom intervention, the hurt will solely develop. Even earlier than efforts by DOGE and the administration to weaken SSA, roughly 30,000 disabled folks died in 2023 whereas ready for his or her SSDI software to be accredited. Working People pay into Social Safety for his or her total profession as a result of they acknowledge the protections of SSI and SSDI are a part of our ethical obligation to at least one one other. These advantages have been funded by working American taxpayers with the understanding the funds will shield their futures and their communities. Making SSA more durable to entry shouldn’t be solely denying disabled People their proper to entry that safety, it’s theft.”
Howard Rosenblum, founder and Chair of Deaf Equality, mentioned “Our Federal Authorities is abandoning folks with disabilities, and this lawsuit seeks to carry it accountable by asking the Federal Courts to revive the federal government’s obligations to us. The SSA is a lifeline for thousands and thousands of individuals with disabilities together with Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Laborious of Listening to, and Late Deafened People. By throwing out important providers, the Federal Authorities is disregarding its authorized tasks and failing to guard these American people who depend on these applications. Many of those People have devoted a lifetime of labor and repair, solely to be disrespected and disserved after they want help probably the most.”
“Social Safety has been lifting seniors, folks with disabilities, and survivor kids out of poverty for practically 90 years. It’s the advantages we’ve got earned and represents a contract between generations,” acknowledged Rosa Bentley, President of Massachusetts Senior Motion Council. “We can not look away because the Trump Administration, Elon Musk and DOGE push ahead aggressive personnel cuts and operational adjustments that undermine entry to our earned advantages and exhibit a whole disregard for the hard-working folks of this nation.”
The plaintiffs argue that the mass restructuring violates the Rehabilitation Act, the Administrative Process Act, and a number of constitutional provisions, together with due course of and the First Modification proper to petition the federal government for redress of grievances. With greater than 1.1 million incapacity claims already pending, and 1000’s dying or going bankrupt every year awaiting selections, the plaintiffs allege that the SSA’s latest actions are each illegal and life-threatening.
Max Richtman, President and CEO of the Nationwide Committee to Protect Social Safety and Medicare, mentioned “Beneath the affect of Trump, Musk and DOGE, the management of the Social Safety Administration has been recklessly slashing providers, places of work, and employees. These dangerous insurance policies have already hindered our members and supporters (largely seniors, folks with disabilities, and their households) from gathering the advantages they’ve paid for.”
Plaintiffs are requesting that the Courtroom reverse the closures of OCREO and OT, halt all staffing reductions, reinstate staff who had been wrongfully terminated, and roll again the insurance policies that require in-person appointments.
In regards to the Nationwide Federation of the Blind: The Nationwide Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind folks of all ages and gives data and help to households with blind kids, older People who’re dropping imaginative and prescient, and extra. Based in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy group of blind People with associates, chapters, and divisions within the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We imagine within the hopes and desires of blind folks and work collectively to rework them into actuality. Study extra about our many applications and initiatives at nfb.org.
In regards to the American Affiliation of Individuals with Disabilities: The American Affiliation of Individuals with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, growing the political and financial energy of individuals with disabilities. As a nationwide cross-disability rights group, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 70 million People with disabilities by selling equal alternative, financial energy, unbiased residing, and political participation. To study extra, go to the AAPD web site: www.aapd.com.
About Deaf Equality: Deaf Equality is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group decided to realize equality for all Deaf, Deaf Blind, Deaf Disabled, Laborious of Listening to, and Late Deafened folks in the USA by guaranteeing full accommodated entry to all features of life and dismantling oppressive attitudes and methods.
In regards to the Nationwide Committee to Protect Social Safety and Medicare: Based by the son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Nationwide Committee to Protect Social Safety and Medicare is a non-profit membership group whose mission is to guard, protect, promote, and make sure the monetary safety, well being, and well-being of older People, together with folks with disabilities.
In regards to the Massachusetts Senior Motion Council: Based in 1981, the Massachusetts Senior Motion Council is a statewide grassroots, senior-led group that empowers its members to make use of their very own voices to deal with key public coverage and group points that have an effect on their well being and well-being. It’s devoted to safeguarding and strengthening the methods that each one group members have to depend on for financial and well being safety.
About Justice in Getting old: Justice in Getting old is a nationwide group that makes use of the ability of regulation to combat senior poverty by securing entry to inexpensive well being care, financial safety, and the courts for older adults with restricted assets. Since 1972 we’ve targeted our efforts totally on preventing for individuals who have been marginalized and excluded from justice, similar to ladies, folks of shade, LGBTQ people, and folks with restricted English proficiency.
For added data, please contact:
Nationwide Federation of the Blind: Stephanie Cascone at communications@nfb.org
American Affiliation of Individuals with Disabilities at jdavidson@aapd.com
Deaf Equality at contact@deafequality.org
Nationwide Committee to Protect Social Safety and Medicare at Gottliebw@NCPSSM.org
Massachusetts Senior Motion Council at Carolyn@MaSeniorAction.org
Brown Goldstein & Levy, LLP at ehill@browngold.com
Justice in Getting old at vbarrington@justiceinaging.org; rbailey@justiceinaging.org
