Over 150 concerned citizens speak out about Trump administration

She noted that she was speaking in a personal capacity and not as a government official, and that she is following the Hatch Act, a law that limits political activities of federal employees.

Brandy said that the government has not yet conducted a reduction in force for Social Security employees, but it has offered incentives to get them to voluntarily leave.

“What they have done is offer the fork in the road,” she said. “They have offered the [Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments] which is an early separation incentive. They’ve also offered early retirement, [Voluntary Early Retirement Authority,] a little bit of money, carrots, and they have expressed the desire to traumatize federal workers. OK? That is Vought. He literally said that, it’s been quoted, it’s out there.”

In October 2024, ProPublica unearthed video of Russell Vought, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, giving private speeches where he said he wants “bureaucrats to be traumatically affected” and that they should not want to go to work in the morning because they’re viewed as villains.

“They will cut Social Security, at least the spending for Social Security,” Brandy said. “And what that’s going to translate to, even if they say they’re not going to cut your benefits, they’re going to make it excruciatingly painful for you to try to get them. You will wait longer and longer to receive them. You will wait longer and longer for a hearing before an administrative law judge. Your phone calls will go unanswered when people are not answering the phones because they’re no longer there.”

Over 150 community members who live in New York’s 21st Congressional District and the surrounding area met on Wednesday, March 19 at the Copper City Community Connection building, 305 E. Locust St., to discuss topics like the impact of tariffs on citizens, transgender rights, cuts in veterans’ services, threats to Medicaid and Social Security, education, and more.

According to Indivisible Mohawk Valley and event organizers, Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is awaiting Senate confirmation to become Ambassador to the United Nations, was invited to the town hall with a registered letter, but she did not attend. Instead of speaking to her, attendees spoke to an empty chair that had a sign with her name and picture on it.

Angela Topi of Rome spoke about local federal jobs at Defense Finance and Accounting Services and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

“I’m a lifetime Roman, born and raised here. I’ve watched the base at its finest, and I’ve watched the base get to where it is today,” Topi said. “If Elise bothered to show up, I would ask her what she plans to do about securing DFAS and AFRL in Rome, New York.”

Peg of Rome spoke about the topic of vaccines, which is a deeply personal topic to her and her family.

“I don’t want my grandchildren going to school where they might decide not to make you absolutely have vaccines. I’m extremely passionate about this because in the 1940s, when I grew up, I know the personal tragedies of polio,” Peg said. “My brother was so bad with polio that he’s fortunate he lived. Fortunately, he grew up to be a fine young man and had a wonderful career, thanks to my parents, because there was no Americans with Disabilities Act. There were no buses to take him to school, no handicapped parking spots, and the list goes on and on.”