Senator Kirsten Gillibrand condemned President Trump’s executive order freezing hiring for civilian federal workers, warning of its impact on Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. Staffing at the Social Security Administration is at a 27-year low, and the Department of Veterans Affairs faces a critical shortage of doctors and nurses.
Gillibrand argued the freeze will lead to longer processing times for benefit applications, increased wait times for appointments, and overwhelmed phone support. A recent email to federal employees offering them the option to resign could worsen these problems.
Calling the plan “short-sighted,” Gillibrand urged Trump to reverse the order, emphasizing the harm it would cause to seniors and veterans nationwide.
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