Dems’ new fault line
Plus: Hakeem Jeffries questions GOP’s protester claims and Linda McMahon’s confirmation moves ahead amid education concerns.
👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Uh-oh: “Grad school is in trouble” by Ian Boogst: “The latest signal that the future of the university is under threat.” Keep reading for what’s worth knowing from the Hill today before you clock out—straight from my notebook to your inbox.
Paid subscribers to Once Upon a Hill get first dibs on Michael’s List each evening. On the free plan? You receive the same valuable updates the following morning. Be in the know tonight, not tomorrow.
1. Dems’ new fault line
— Hill Democrats have seized on a swelling fault line between the Republican Party: A dramatic proposed workforce reduction at the agency that manages Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability and survivor benefits.
— Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Lee Dudek instructed managers to develop plans to slash agency headcount by 50 percent. The directive comes after the Trump budget and personnel management offices directed agencies to prepare for significant staff cuts by mid-March.
— Democrats argue Dudek’s instructions amount to a backdoor cut of earned benefits for some of the most vulnerable Americans. The potential closure of field offices could result in delays and denials of benefits, effectively undermining the SSA’s mission.
— “Without that ability to correct errors, millions of people could be left with underpayments or no payments at all,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate committee with jurisdiction over the SSA, told me this afternoon.
— In one instance, he says he’s not going to do anything to cut Social Security,” Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee’s panel on Social Security, said of Trump. “And then he has a plan to defund the agency so that it doesn’t work so that seniors who call my office or anyone else trying to seek help on their right to earn their benefits can’t get through to anybody.”
— House Democrats spent the early part of the week hammering Republicans over a budget plan the House GOP adopted by one vote that paved the way to slash Medicaid by up to $880 billion to bankroll an extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts.
— Read all about it: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) statement on the Trump administration’s plan
2. Jeffries questions GOP’s protester claims
— The origin of much of the momentum national Democrats feel they are generating is partially due to the recent viral backlash toward Republican lawmakers at district town hall meetings, particularly concerning the DOGE cuts at federal departments and agencies.
— Some GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have alleged that these protests are orchestrated by Democratic-aligned groups deploying paid protesters to exaggerate grassroots opposition.
Johnson particularly suggested that Democrats have been filling seats at town halls to create the appearance of widespread dissent.
— Jeffries told me this morning that Republican leaders need to produce evidence of their claims.
— “They are running scared and it is shameful because they can’t stand behind their reckless budget,” Jeffries said. “People are understandably upset and pissed off at Republicans because they promise to fight to make life better. And instead, they’re trying to enact the largest Medicaid cut in American history.”
— There is currently no concrete evidence to support Johnson’s allegations. A spokesperson for the speaker’s office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
— See for yourself: Johnson’s comments on the issue
Want to reach the people shaping policy and politics Michael’s List puts your message in front of the Capitol’s most plugged-in audience—where influence meets insight. Let’s talk about how a sponsorship can align with your goals. Email michael@onceuponahill.com to learn more.
3. McMahon’s confirmation moves ahead amid education concerns
— President Trump is one step closer to seeing his pick advance his goal of eliminating the Department of Education.
— The Senate voted 51–47 along party lines to advance Linda McMahon’s nomination to lead the federal agency overseeing education policy and funding.
— In a floor speech this morning ahead of the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said eliminating the Education Department would shift the financial burden to local communities, forcing families to pay higher property taxes to compensate for the loss of federal funding for schools.
— “But communities will also be forced to slash other programs to make room for funding for schools,” Schumer added. “Again, this is not what the American people want.”
— Project 2025, the comprehensive policy agenda associated with President Trump’s administration, proposes significant changes to public education.
— In addition to shifting the responsibilities of the department to state and local systems and substantially slashing education funding, which could impact programs like Title I and Pell Grants, aspects of the agenda also emphasize expanding school choice options, such as private school vouchers and charter schools, to provide parents with more educational choices.
— Additionally, Project 2025 proposes changes to the enforcement of civil rights laws in education, potentially affecting protections against discrimination for various student groups, which suggest a shift towards a more decentralized education system with reduced federal oversight and funding.
— During McMahon’s confirmation hearings before the Senate HELP Committee earlier this month, Democrats raised concerns about the impact of McMahon’s focus on dismantling the department on protections for vulnerable students, especially those with disabilities. Her limited formal experience in education, given her background in business as the former president and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., was also questioned.
— The vote to confirm McMahon’s nomination is expected on Monday.
— See for yourself: Schumer’s floor speech against the vote to advance McMahon’s nomination
Thanks for reading! I’ll see you tomorrow unless you have something I should know sooner. You can email, DM, or Signal anytime. And please invite your friends to join Michael’s List.