Rep. Stephen F. Lynch’s Opening Remarks at Dead of Night Rules Committee Consideration of GOP Tax Scam
Washington, D.C. (May 21, 2025)— Below is Rep. Stephen F. Lynch’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at the House Committee on Rules’ dead of night meeting on Republicans’ tax scam. This reckless and cruel reconciliation bill kicks nearly 14 million people off their health care, makes the largest cut to food assistance ever, and bolsters the Trump-Musk Administration’s attacks on the federal workforce – all in service of more tax giveaways for millionaires and billionaires.
Rep. Stephen F. Lynch We’re here today because the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans want to unload the cost of $7 trillion in tax cuts onto the backs of American workers, families, and dedicated public servants. In just over 100 days, we’ve witnessed this administration: lay off more than 200,000 probationary employees, including leading public health experts, veterans, and other critical positions; coerce 75,000 civil servants into resigning; replace 50,000 non-partisan civil servants with political appointees; and illegally terminate non-partisan, independent federal watchdogs. This partisan bill threatens to further undermine the federal workforce by reducing the take-home pay, benefits, and workforce protections of 2.4 million federal employees, most of whom are middle-class American workers and a third of whom are military veterans. This is more of the same—an unprecedented assault and political purge of the civil service. And the people who will pay most for these attacks are the veterans, children, seniors, and other Americans who rely on our federal workers to deliver lifesaving services. The FERS annuity supplement, a monthly payment for retirees before they are eligible for social security age at 62, would be eliminated for anyone not actively receiving the supplemental payment by January 1, 2028, or does not meet a specific exemption. Federal workers like letter carriers, VA hospital nurses, and food inspectors who have committed decades to the job and are eligible to retire would not be able to receive this vital payment to make ends meet. That’s $18,000 per year in retirement income for the average beneficiary eliminated because billionaires need another tax break. This legislation would also change the annuity formula to base most employees’ annual retirement payments on their highest five years of earnings, instead of the highest three. This is an outright theft of earned benefits that would cost federal retirees thousands of dollars annually, and my Republican colleague, Representative Mike Turner of Ohio, was right to speak out against this provision during our committee’s consideration of this bill. A particularly egregious provision in this bill would force any newly hired federal employee to accept at-will employment status or lose 5% of their take-home pay to increased retirement contributions. Federal workers who choose to remain under the merit-based system would be forced to contribute nearly 10% of their paycheck toward retirement. CBO estimates that 75% of new hires in the federal government would now be subject to political purges of the federal workforce with little to no protections. I’ll be introducing amendments to strike this bill’s at-will employment provision and to exempt veterans and federal workers who enter the workforce prior to bill enactment from the change in annuity formula. Despite the claims of this administration, federal workers are not leeches on the system but hard-working, dedicated public servants who are paid about 25% less than their private sector counterparts. A strong, non-partisan federal workforce is fundamental to a functioning democratic government. These dedicated workers deserve our respect and support. Like most Americans, federal workers face increased costs for groceries and housing—and economic uncertainty because of President Trump’s reckless tax and tariff agenda. The Trump tariffs are estimated to cost American households $4,900 per year—the largest tax increase since 1968. President Trump and Congressional Republicans are also advocating for a tax regime that will actually increase federal deficits by more than $4 trillion over the next ten years. Worst of all, they are seeking to offset their tax cuts for billionaires by gutting $800 billion from the Medicaid program. My democratic colleagues and I do not support that. Oversight Democrats stand with struggling families, we oppose corruption and abuse of power, and we are committed to solving our nation’s crises without sacrificing the well-being of our civil servants. I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation and instead work towards a budget that respects American workers and the basic needs and services they provide.
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