I started this thread yesterday and had to stop for bed. But it's ready to roll again, so please check it out! This is obviously a story about how it's become harder to access two disability assistance programs, SSI and SSDI. But it's also a story of Trump/DOGE undermining the public sector.

In this new report, @ksavin.bsky.social, and @calliefreitag.bsky.social and I explain how Trump 2.0 and DOGE built up new barriers to the already-difficult process of getting disability benefits. Let's talk about what we found, and what we recommend to address the issues. 🧵

SSI supports 7.4M low-income seniors & people with disabilities but outdated rules and low benefits leave millions in poverty. Our new paper from @socio-steve.bsky.social and @jacklandry.bsky.social models what would happen if Congress modernized SSI. The results are striking. 🧵👇 Full report:

Must-read new report! It's excellent work, providing crucial insight into how service to Social Security applicants and beneficiaries deteriorated over the past year. It's especially important now that SSA leadership has removed most customer-facing metrics from public view.

I'm thrilled to announce a new report I wrote with @ksavin.bsky.social and @calliefreitag.bsky.social on the impact of DOGE/Trump 2.0 turmoil on Social Security disability programs. As the title says, these programs have always been tough to navigate. But in the last year, they've gotten worse.

If it was just about funding cuts, they wouldn’t have a blackout on communications. Aside from the cancellation of standing meetings, we haven’t heard from our federal partners at the NIH since January 20th. These are people we talked with multiple times a week.

Sharing for visibility www.statnews.com/2025/03/03/n... Thank you @statnews.com

WATCH: “Trump should ignore the judge — Who’s gonna arrest him? The U.S. marshals? They work for Trump.” New Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino makes it clear he believes Trump is above the law. (While saying hello to “Big Balls Mcgroin”) 🎪 🇺🇸

WBUR story up www.wbur.org/news/2025/02...

Even before Trump 2.0, the Social Security Administration’s staffing levels were at a 50-year low due to a decade of budget caps & cuts authored by GOP lawmakers. Further staff cuts and office closures can only make things worse for America's most vulnerable. New, @propublica.org

I repeat, if you or a loved one was recently fired from the federal government during your probationary period, and the reason you were given was poor performance, please reach out to us at www.centerforemploymentjustice.com. We have a plan and may be able to help you.

SSA RDRC is the funding source for our (@ksavin.bsky.social & my) important study focused on the work-related decisions & barriers that SSI recipients face. Absolutely senseless.

DOGE is going after Social Security data: "There is no way to overstate how serious a breach this is" www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Maddow: I think it's pretty obvious now that they are using DEI as just a pretext. They're giving everything that, you know, unfashionable boogeyman label to try to avoid people in general, realizing that what they're really doing is just wrecking the US government

JUST PUBLISHED: It has been the honor of my career to co-author "Queer, HIV+ and Running Out of Medication in Gaza" with Afeef Nessouli @theintercept.com —a story about Palestine, AIDS, genocide, and an extraordinary survivor named E.S. Please read & share. theintercept.com/2025/01/13/i...

Trump is considering executive action to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

John Tuthill, a scientist who studies brain control of movement, was banned from NIH today due to Trump directives. He was scheduled to give a seminar about his work. But all visiting seminars have been banned. Exchanging ideas is the lifeblood of science, and this will harm progress. 🧪