Secretary of Commerce claims seniors won’t complain if they don’t get their Social Security checks

Miller-Meeks and Nunn should step up and defend Iowans hard earned benefits 

The Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE have escalated their attacks on Social Security and put the hard-earned benefits of hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities in Iowa at risk. Iowa’s congressional delegation—including Reps. Miller-Meeks and Nunn—have been silent as beneficiaries are already dealing with long wait times, website crashes, and waves of phone calls because of cuts to the Social Security Administration.

These efforts hit a crescendo last week when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that only "fraudsters" would complain about missing a monthly Social Security check. These comments show that Lutnick, a billionaire, is completely out of touch with working people. Around 70 million Americans, including nearly 700,000 Iowans, receive Social Security benefits, and for many of them that is their only source of income.  

Kathleen McQuillen, from Des Moines, works part-time with the Catholic Peace Ministry and provides care for her daughter who relies on programs like Medicare and Social Security Disability Insurance. She herself also receives Social Security benefits and together they are able to maintain a modest living.

"If we were to miss a monthly check I'd certainly complain, and I'm not the only one," McQuillen said. "We don't live extravagantly while relying on these benefits, without them our budget would be very tight. For others, it could be the difference between paying rent or facing eviction. Cutting a lifeline like Social Security to stuff the pockets of billionaires isn't what Iowans want, and our Representatives should be doing everything they can to stop those cuts."