FOLLOWING RESIGNATION OF ACTING SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER, CONGRESSMAN RYAN ESCALATES PUSH TO RE-OPEN POUGHKEEPSIE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE, CALLS ON SPEAKER JOHNSON TO HOLD VOTE ON “PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY ACT”
Following Resignation of Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner, Congressman Ryan Escalates Push to Re-Open Poughkeepsie Social Security Office, Calls on Speaker Johnson to Hold Vote on “Protecting Social Security Act”
On Monday, Acting Commissioner Michelle King resigned after she refused to provide DOGE staffers at the Social Security Administration (SSA) with access to sensitive information
On January 23rd, Ryan wrote to the SSA demanding that the Poughkeepsie branch resume full in-person services immediately; their response suggested families needing in-person services travel to Peekskill or Middletown, or to call or fax instead
Announcement comes on back of closure of both the Newburgh and Kingston Social Security Offices; Ryan’s Protecting Social Security Act would ensure every county in NY-18 would have its own Social Security Office
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Today, after receiving a response from the Social Security Administration suggesting families needing in-person services travel to Peekskill or Middletown, or to call (or fax!) instead, Congressman Ryan escalated his push for immediate action from the Trump Administration. Standing at Poughkeepsie City Hall, Ryan explained how the chaos caused by Elon Musk and DOGE is negatively impacting Hudson Valley families, and called on Speaker Johnson to immediately bring his “Protecting Social Security Act” to the floor. On Monday, Acting Commissioner Michelle King resigned after she refused to provide DOGE staffers at the Social Security Administration with access to sensitive information.
“The chaos of the Trump Administration is directly hurting our Hudson Valley seniors. Musk is spending his time going after our sensitive data and now pushing out the head of the Social Security Administration – and Hudson Valley families are paying the price,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Folks are concerned, and rightfully so; we need to act now. My ‘Protecting Social Security Act’ would make it clear once and for all: there will be no cuts, your benefits are protected, and they will be easily accessible, no matter where you live. I won’t rest until Social Security is protected for everyone.”
“I commend Congressman Ryan for continuing to call attention to this issue and demanding answers. Even a temporary closure will negatively impact city residents who rely on Social Security and may have questions about their benefits,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers. “Social Security needs a clear, comprehensive plan to deal with this disruption. And the city and its residents deserve a pledge that the office will, indeed, be renovated and not permanently closed.”
“The temporary closure of the Social Security Administration office in Poughkeepsie poses an inert challenge for those who rely on the critical resources provided,” said State Senator Rob Rolison. “In many cases those who utilize services offered are our Hudson Valley seniors, individuals with disabilities and others who require in-person assistance. I call upon the administration to provide a feasible solution to ensure that our Hudson Valley residents have uninterrupted and unequivocal access.”
“Hudson Valley residents, especially our seniors and neighbors with disabilities, depend on their local Social Security Administration office for vital services, from Medicare to retirement benefits. The closure of the SSA's Poughkeepsie office, along with closures in Ulster County and Newburgh, leaves some of our most vulnerable residents with few options—and in many cases, no way to access the help they need,” said State Senator Michelle Hinchey. “Asking Dutchess County residents to travel to another county for assistance they should be able to get close to home isn’t realistic, especially for those with limited transportation options, fixed incomes, and mobility challenges. No one should be left behind or denied access to essential services, and we need answers from the SSA to ensure these services remain available locally.
“It’s absurd to think that people from Poughkeepsie will travel to Middletown for help with their Social Security payments or Medicare,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. “Many do not have transportation. The Social Security Administration could easily find space in the library or other public spaces in Poughkeepsie. No matter who people voted for president, nobody voted for the dismantling of Social Security and Medicare.”
“The closure of the Poughkeepsie Social Security office is a heartless move affecting elderly adults, the disabled, wounded veterans, and surviving spouses and children whose well-being depends upon these benefits,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “This decision will force beneficiaries to travel long distances and will worsen already lengthy wait times, placing an undue burden on those who are already facing significant challenges. By shuttering this critical facility, the federal government is essentially telling our residents that their needs are not a priority.”
“On behalf of our constituents, we are hopeful that the office closure will be as short as possible, as these services are much needed by Social Security recipients of Ulster County,” said Susan Koppenhaver, Director of the Ulster County Office for Aging. “Travel to the farther offices for assistance is often very challenging for them.”
In response to Ryan’ s original letter, the Social Security Administration said that “Constituents may contact the staff of the Poughkeepsie SSA office directly by calling 1-877-405-6747 Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, or faxing the office at 1-833-926-2689.” They added that “people who must conduct their SSA business in-person may visit” the Middletown office located at 85 Crystal Run Road, Suite 100. The letter said the Social Security Administration would “notify [Congressman Ryan’s] staff and the local community when the temporary space is open”; no communications has yet been received.
Congressman Ryan has repeatedly stood up to reductions in care for Hudson Valley seniors, vehemently fighting the closure of the Kingston Social Security Office. Following that closure, and the closure of the Newburgh SSA office, Congressman Ryan introduced the Protecting Social Security Act which, along with safeguarding seniors’ earned benefits, would make it such that every county in NY-18 have its own Social Security Office.
Congressman Ryan has also utilized his C.A.R.E.S. van to bring Social Security services back to these areas. The C.A.R.E.S. Van makes weekly visits throughout NY-18 to bring assistance with federal agencies like Social Security, VA, and the IRS directly to constituents in their own communities.
Congressman Ryan has prioritized protecting Social Security and Medicare in Congress, repeatedly voting against House Republicans’ attempts to cut the benefits, including by blocking Republicans’ proposed 20% cut to Social Security in his first year in Congress. Last spring, now-President Donald Trump said that there is “a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” The authors of Project 2025, Trump’s policy playbook, are pushing to raise the retirement age for Social Security, cutting benefits for millions of Americans.
Last year, the Republican Study Committee (RSC), consisting of 80% of House Republicans proposed a budget that would cut over $1.5 trillion from Social Security and increase the retirement age to 69. The RSC’s budget includes cuts to Medicare, raising premiums, and encourages privatization. The Republican Study Committee plan also proposes stripping away major cost-saving measures for Medicare patients that the Inflation Reduction Act implemented, including the $35/month cap on insulin prices, and the ability for Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs and a $2,000/year out-of-pocket cap.
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