¶ Overview
- Rouzer voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs and capped the cost of insulin for Medicare beneficiaries at $35 per month.
- Rouzer also voted for House Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which would trigger nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts, absent future congressional action. He was also a member of the Republican Study Committee, which has advocated for raising the retirement age and turning Medicare into a voucher system.
- Rouzer also joined the congressional DOGE caucus and defended Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as it was weakening Americans’ ability to access the Social Security Administration. When constituents expressed concerns about the impact of DOGE to him he even responded with a letter about an entirely different subject. More than 214,000 North Carolinians in Rouzer’s district relied on Social Security benefits.
¶ Rouzer Voted Against Lowering Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors
2022: ROUZER VOTED AGAINST THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, WHICH INCLUDED PROVISIONS TO NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES AND CAP THE COST OF INSULIN
August 2022: Rouzer Voted Against The Inflation Reduction Act. In August 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Perry voted against concurring in the Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, “comprising a package of climate, tax and health care provisions.” The vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420, 8/12/22; Congressional Quarterly, 8/12/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5376]
April 2022: Rouzer Said He Opposed A Proposal To Put Price Caps On Insulin Because It Would Lead To “Less Innovation.” According to Rep. David Rouzer’s newsletter, “The House recently considered legislation authored by House Democrats to cap insulin costs. Price controls lead to less innovation and rationing of drugs. Instead of working in a bipartisan way to address the root causes of high out-of-pocket costs for insulin, Democrats' legislation would mandate Part D plans and private insurers cover selected insulin products at a government-imposed price cap of the lesser of $35/month or 25 percent of the negotiated price. While it may sound great to put a price cap on insulin, this approach will result in fewer generic insulins and less access to life-saving treatments for Americans.” [Newsletter – Rep. David Rouzer, 4/5/22]
¶ The Inflation Reduction Act Lowered Prescription Drug Costs For North Carolina Seniors
The Inflation Reduction Act Allowed Medicare To Negotiate Prices For Certain Prescription Drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Negotiations are underway between HHS and the participating drug companies of the first 10 prescription drugs selected for negotiation in the first cycle of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The first 10 drugs selected treat conditions such as blood clots, diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, autoimmune diseases, and chronic kidney disease." [U.S. Health and Human Services, Inflation Reduction Act Of 2022, Viewed 7/1/24]
The Inflation Reduction Act Required Drug Companies To Pay A Rebate To Medicare If They Raised Prices Faster Than The Rate Of Inflation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Allowing Medicare to negotiate with participating drug companies to get lower drug prices for certain drugs covered under Medicare Beginning negotiations with the participating drug companies that manufacture all 10 drugs selected for the first cycle of negotiations" [U.S. Health and Human Services, Inflation Reduction Act Of 2022, Viewed 7/1/24]
The Inflation Reduction Act Capped Insulin Prices At $35 Per Monthly Prescription. According to Office Of The Assistant Secretary For Planning And Evaluation, “Effective January 1, 2023, out-of-pocket costs for insulin are capped at $35 per monthly prescription among Medicare Part D enrollees under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). A similar cap takes effect in Medicare Part B on July 1, 2023. An estimated 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin would have saved $734 million in Part D and $27 million in Part B if these caps had been in effect in 2020.” [Office Of The Assistant Secretary For Planning And Evaluation, 1/24/23]
- University Of Wisconsin-Madison School Of Public Health: “The Inflation Reduction Act $35 Cap On Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Insulin Led To Increases In The Total Number Of Filled Insulin Prescriptions For Medicare Beneficiaries.” According to University of Wisconsin-Madison School Of Public Health, “The Inflation Reduction Act $35 cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin led to increases in the total number of filled insulin prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.” [University of Wisconsin-Madison School Of Public Health, 7/24/23]
¶ The Inflation Reduction Act Benefited More Than 300,000 North Carolina Medicare Enrollees Who Took Prescription Drugs Selected For Price Negotiation
More Than 300,000 North Carolina Medicare Enrollees Took Prescription Drugs That Had Been Selected For Price Negotiation Made Possible By The Inflation Reduction Act.
[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for North Carolina, Viewed 4/9/26]
¶ Rouzer Voted To Cut Medicare And Belonged To A Group That Wanted To Turn Medicare Into A Voucher System
¶ rouzer voted for house republicans’ reconciliation bill, which would trigger $500 billion in medicare cuts, absent future congressional action
May 2025: Rouzer Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Rouzer voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- HEADLINE: "Trump And GOP’s Tax Bill Would Force Cuts To Medicare, CBO Says" [Washington Post, 5/21/25]
- Congressional Budget Office Estimated That The House Republican Reconciliation Bill Would Trigger Nearly $500 Billion In Cuts To Medicare. According to a letter the Congressional Budget Office sent to Rep. Brendan Boyle, "Today the Congressional Budget Office transmitted an estimate of the budgetary effects of the 2025 reconciliation bill, as ordered reported by the House Committee on the Budget on May 18, 2025. 1 CBO has not yet completed estimates of the effects of interactions among the titles of the legislation. This letter responds to your questions concerning the sequestration (the cancellation of budgetary resources) in accordance with the Statutory Pay‑As‑You‑Go Act of 2010 (S-PAYGO) that would occur if an enacted bill raised deficits by $2.3 trillion over 10 years. Under S-PAYGO, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is required to maintain 5- and 10-year scorecards that it updates with the estimated cumulative changes in revenues and outlays generated by newly enacted legislation. […] The 4 percent maximum reduction in Medicare spending would apply to sequestration orders for years after 2026. If OMB ordered a sequestration of $230 billion for each year through 2034, the ordered reductions in Medicare spending would increase to about $75 billion in 2034 and would total roughly $490 billion over the 2027–2034 period." [Letter to Rep. Brendan Boyle – Congressional Budget Office, 5/20/25]
July 2025: Rouzer Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Extended $4 Trillion In Expiring Tax Cuts, Added New Tax Breaks, Appropriated $448 Million In Defense, Border, And Immigration Enforcement Funding, And Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Costs. In July 2025, Rouzer voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
¶ Rouzer Defended His Support For The Big Beautiful Bill, Claiming It Was A “Win” For North Carolinians
Rouzer In 2025: “The Truth Is We Want To Strengthen Medicaid By Eliminating The Almost $81 Billion Annually In Waste, Fraud, And Abuse As Identified By The General Accounting Office.” According to David Rouzer’s newsletter, “Since passing our Budget Resolution, Democrats and the mainstream media continue to say that Republicans in the House and Senate plan to cut Medicaid. The truth is we want to strengthen Medicaid by eliminating the almost $81 billion annually in waste, fraud, and abuse as identified by the General Accounting Office. This amount, over a ten year period (the period of time the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) uses to score legislation), equates to $810 billion in savings achieved just by closing those loopholes.” [Newsletter – Rep. David Rouzer, 3/23/25]
In Response To Federal Cuts Impacting North Carolina’s Medicaid Expansion Program, Rouzer Claimed He Was Working To “Strengthen Medicaid.” According to WECT News 6, “The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is discussing federal cuts that could affect North Carolina’s Medicaid Expansion Program. The state’s Medicaid Expansion Program extends coverage to low-income adults, but those people could lose coverage. […] The team for Republican Representative David Rouzer says they working to help patients. ‘Mr. Rouzer, along with Republicans in the House, is working to strengthen Medicaid and protect its core mission of providing a safety net to vulnerable Americans, especially mothers and children,’ says Rouzer’s team.” [WECT News 6, 4/24/25]
May 2025: Rouzer Touted The Big Beautiful Bill As A “Win” For Working Families And A “Historic Victory.” According to a press release from Rep. David Rouzer, "With support from Congressman David Rouzer, the U.S. House of Representatives passed One Big Beautiful Bill, furthering President Trump's America First Agenda. ‘Thursday morning marked an exciting and historic victory for the American people with House passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. This monumental legislation is a win for hardworking families in North Carolina and across the nation. It’s a testament to the unwavering commitment of House Republicans and President Trump to securing our borders, improving our economy, and ensuring American workers come first,’ said Congressman Rouzer. ‘I’m proud to support this bill which will boost job creation, reduce burdensome regulations, and strengthen our national security.’" [Press Release – Rep. David Rouzer, 5/23/25]
July 2025: Rouzer Touted The Big Beautiful Bill, Claiming It Had “Big Wins” For Americans Across The Country. According to a press release from Rep. David Rouzer, "With Congressman David Rouzer's support, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill to provide historic tax relief to middle and working-class families and small businesses, and the largest investment in border security and our national defense in a generation. Fulfilling President Trump’s agenda will also rein in reckless spending, cut waste, fraud, and abuse as well as unleash energy dominance all of which will provide jet-fuel for the economy. ‘The One Big Beautiful Bill is historic legislation that delivers big wins to not just the fine citizens who live in North Carolina's Seventh Congressional District, but to Americans across the country,’ said Rep. Rouzer. ‘The bill prevents the largest tax hike in history by making permanent key tax cuts that will incentivize the investment and growth necessary to stimulate the economy and increase wages. It also secures our borders, strengthens our national defense, cuts waste, fraud, and abuse across the board, and supports American workers by excluding tips and overtime pay from being taxed, as well as providing tax rebates for seniors. Additionally, this bill enhances the safety net for our farm families critical to their ability to operate, provides a major infusion of funding for our great Coast Guard, and makes significant investments to modernize our Air Traffic Control, just to name a few of the many other key provisions.’" [Press Release – Rep. David Rouzer, 7/3/25]
¶ Rouzer was a member of the republican study committee, which proposed turning medicare into a voucher system
As Of January 2025, Rouzer Was A Member Of The Republican Study Committee.
[Republican Study Committee Website via Wayback Machine, “Membership,” Viewed 1/23/25 via archive.org]
¶ The Republican Study Committee Budget Has Proposed Raising Health Care Costs For Seniors By Switching To A “Premium Support” System
The Republican Study Committee’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposed A “Premium Support” Model For Medicare Beneficiaries. According to the Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal, "The RSC budget would implement a premium support model where private, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans would compete with a federal Medicare plan (the ‘Fed Plan’) that would offer the traditional Medicare benefits received through Part A, B, and D. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans provide the same services as Medicare but are administered by private health insurance providers. Under this plan, Medicare’s trust funds would be merged into a singular fund that would be responsible for paying premium support subsidies to cover the vast majority of their premium costs. This new singular trust fund would be funded with revenues from existing payroll taxes, Part B premiums, and Part B and D cost sharing—which would help ensure continued traditional Medicare benefits remain available. This framework would ensure seniors, whether they choose a private plan or the Fed Plan, receive more affordable, high-quality coverage." [Republican Study Committee FY 2025 Budget Proposal, 3/20/24]
The Republican Study Committee’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Proposed A “Premium Support” Model For Medicare Beneficiaries. According to Roll Call, "The plan offered by the 175-member Republican Study Committee would gradually raise the age at which future retirees can start claiming full Social Security benefits from 67 to 69, a politically fraught proposal that’s all but certain to appear in Democratic campaign ads. The document also proposes a ‘premium support’ plan that would subsidize private insurance options that compete with traditional Medicare. That would be similar to budget plans proposed by Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., during his tenure in Congress that were panned by Democrats and some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump." [Roll Call, 6/14/23]
Republicans’ Proposal To Switch To A Medicare “Premium Support” System Would Result In Most Beneficiaries Paying More For Health Care Than They Do Under Current Laws. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priority, "Under premium support, Medicare would make a fixed-dollar payment (often called a voucher) for each beneficiary to defray part of the cost of health insurance — either through a private plan or a form of traditional Medicare. The beneficiary’s premium would equal the difference between the voucher amount and the cost of the plan that he or she selected. Premium support would apply to all new beneficiaries starting in 2024 and to any other beneficiaries who chose to participate. Unlike the current system, in which Part B premiums are generally the same for all beneficiaries, premiums under the House GOP plan would vary by region and by plan. Although the GOP plan lacks the details to assess its impact on beneficiaries, most beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare would pay more than under current law, according to the Congressional Budget Office. " [Center on Budget and Policy Priority, 7/26/16]
¶ Rouzer Was A Member Of A Group That Wanted To Raise The Social Security Retirement Age
¶ Rouzer was a member of the republican study committee, which proposed turning medicare into a voucher system
As Of January 2025, Rouzer Was A Member Of The Republican Study Committee.
[Republican Study Committee Website via Wayback Machine, “Membership,” Viewed 1/23/25 via archive.org]
¶ The Republican Study Committee Has Long Advocated For Raising The Social Security Retirement Age
The Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal Included “Modest Adjustments To The Retirement Age For Future Retirees To Account For Increases In Life Expectancy.” According to the Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal, “For instance, the RSC Budget would make modest changes to the primary insurance amount (PIA) benefit formula for individuals who are not near retirement and earn more than the wealthiest PIA benefit factor. It would also make modest adjustments to the retirement age for future retirees to account for increases in life expectancy. Finally, for these individuals, it would limit and phase out auxiliary benefits for high income earners.” [Republican Study Committee FY 2025 Budget Proposal, 3/20/24]
The Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Plan Included Raising The Age Of Eligibility For Social Security Benefits To 69. According to Roll Call, “The largest bloc of House conservatives offered up a fiscal blueprint Wednesday that promises to balance the federal budget in seven years, make GOP tax cuts permanent, and slash domestic spending. The plan offered by the 175-member Republican Study Committee would gradually raise the age at which future retirees can start claiming full Social Security benefits from 67 to 69, a politically fraught proposal that’s all but certain to appear in Democratic campaign ads. The document also proposes a ‘premium support’ plan that would subsidize private insurance options that compete with traditional Medicare. That would be similar to budget plans proposed by Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., during his tenure in Congress that were panned by Democrats and some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.” [Roll Call, 6/14/23]
The Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Proposal Called For The “Gradual Increase Of The Normal Retirement Age.” According to the Republican Study Committee FY 2023 Budget, “This trend, which will continue to increase financial pressure on Social Security, is a result of the aging U.S. population. To partially address this issue, the full retirement was raised to 67 in 2022 for those born in 1960 and later. The Social Security Reform Act would simply continue the gradual increase of the normal retirement age that current law has set in motion at a rate of three months per year until it is increased by three years for those reaching age 62 in 2040, 18 years from now.” [Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2023 Budget via Wayback Machine, 8/5/22]
The Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal Called To “Reform The Full Retirement Age To Track Life Expectancy.” According to a press release from the Republican Study Committee, “The RSC Budget puts Social Security on a permanent path to solvency without adjusting benefits for any Americans in or near retirement. It would: Increase the minimum benefit up to 40% of average wages for those that worked 40 years or more. • Reform the full retirement age to track life expectancy.” [Press Release – Republican Study Committee, Viewed 11/25/25]
The Republican Study Committee Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Proposal Included Phasing In “An Increase In Eligibility Age To 70” For Social Security. According to the Republican Study Committee FY 2020 Executive Summary, “MAKING SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENT - without reform, will be depleted by 2035, cutting benefits by 25 percent • implements the Social Security Reform Act to achieve long-term sustainable solvency • phases in an increase of the eligibility age to 70 and indexes life expectancy to keep up with increases in longevity ” [Republican Study Committee, “RSC Budget FY 2020: Preserving American Freedom,” Viewed 11/25/25]
¶ The Center For American Progress Estimated That Raising The Retirement Age Would Cost Future Retirees Thousands In Benefits Every Year
According To The Center For American Progress, Raising The Retirement Age Would Cost The Median-Wage Retiree Thousands In Benefits Every Year. According to the Center for American Progress, “One policy that has continually been included in RSC budget proposals for years is an increase to Social Security’s full retirement age (FRA), the age at which seniors become eligible to access Social Security retirement benefits without a financial penalty for retiring early. The FRA is 67 under current law, but the RSC plan would push it back to 69, leading to drastic benefit cuts for a large majority of Americans. […] This higher FRA would cut Social Security benefits. According to Center for American Progress analysis, an FRA of 69 would cut benefits for all new retirees between roughly 12.5 percent and 14.3 percent by the time it is fully phased in. In addition, it would cost a median-wage retiree who earned $70,000 in 2022 and turns 62 in 2034 thousands of dollars every year.” [Center for American Progress, 7/31/24]
- After Receiving Social Security For 10 Years, The Median-Wage Retiree Would Lose Nearly $100,000 In Retirement Benefits. According to the Center for American Progress, “However, the dollar amount of the cut would not be static each year. To account for inflation, Social Security benefits are updated with cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), which the Social Security Administration expects to equal 2.4 percent each year after 2025, according to its intermediate cost projections. After accounting for these COLAs, the median-wage retiree would lose between $46,104 and $99,252 after 10 years of receiving Social Security.” [Center for American Progress, 7/31/24]
¶ More Than 214,000 North Carolinians In The 7th District Relied On Social Security Benefits
214,870 North Carolinians In The 7th Congressional District Relied On Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 214,870 North Carolinians in the 7th congressional district received Social Security benefits. [Social Security Administration, North Carolina, 2024]
¶ Rouzer Defended DOGE As It Weakened Social Security And Cut Funding For Critical Programs In North Carolina
¶ rouzer joined the congressional doge caucus and defended the agency’s cuts
November 2024: Rouzer Joined The Congressional DOGE Caucus. According to a press release from Rep. Aaron Bean, "On Tuesday, November 19, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) and U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) launched the Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. On Friday, November 22, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) launched the DOGE Caucus in the Senate. […] In the House, members include Representatives: Cory Mills (FL-7), Celeste Maloy (UT-02), Josh Brecheen (OK-02), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Ben Cline (VA-06), Jim Baird (IN-04), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Daniel Webster (FL-11), David Rouzer (NC-07), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Andy Barr (KY-06), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Randy Weber (TX-14), Glenn Grothman (WI-6), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Gary Palmer (AL-06), Beth Van Duyne (TX-06), Rick Allen (GA-12), Tom McClintock (CA-05), Ron Estes (KS-04),Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Roger Williams (TX-25), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), and Mike Rulli (OH-06)." [Press Release – Rep. Aaron Bean, 11/25/24]
February 2025: Rouzer Said Elon Musk “May Be The Very Perfect Person” To Make Changes To The Nation’s Air Traffic Control System. According to Politico, “Elon Musk has pledged to deploy his ‘DOGE’ cost-cutting squad inside the innards of America’s air traffic control system, promising Wednesday to ‘make rapid safety upgrades’ to the complex web of software, hardware, facilities and people that keep planes from crashing into each other. […] Early sentiment on Capitol Hill about Musk rooting through the air traffic control system hewed mostly to partisan lines. ‘I haven’t thought about it,’ said Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), who sits on the House Transportation Committee. ‘We’re probably 15 years behind in technology at [the] FAA in terms of what’s used by air traffic controllers and everything else. He may be the very perfect person. He’s got experience.’” [Politico, 2/5/25]
June 2025: Rouzer Touted Funding Cuts For USAID, NPR, and PBS. According to a newsletter from Rep. David Rouzer, “With my support, House Republicans passed the Rescissions Act of 2025. This legislation codifies cuts totaling $9.4 billion in wasteful spending identified by the Trump Administration. The package includes cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Public Radio (NPR), and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).” [Newsletter – Rep. David Rouzer, 6/20/25]
¶ Rouzer’s Response To Constituents’ Concerns With The Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Was Disappointing
HEADLINE: “Voters Jam Lawmakers’ Phone Lines, Inboxes Over Musk. Here Are Answers They’re Getting” [Charlotte Observer, 2/22/25]
- After He Received Complaints About DOGE Cuts, Rouzer Responded To Constituents With A Letter On An Entirely Different Topic. According to Charlotte Observer “Harris is far from the only member of Congress sending out form letters in response to complaints from constituents. Both Rep. David Rouzer, a Republican from Wilmington, and Tillis have had some of their responses posted to online message boards, with multiple users saying they received identical letters and one user mocking Rouzer for sending back a letter on an entirely different topic than he wrote in about. Tillis’ letter on Musk, while similar, focuses on Musk’s work to cut wasteful spending in the Treasury and his own support of Musk, something he’s also spoken out about on the Senate floor.” [Charlotte Observer, 2/22/25]
HEADLINE: "Brunswick County Protesters Urge Rep. Rouzer To Take Action Against Trump" [WWAY, 3/6/25]
- Brunswick County Democratic Party Chair Criticized Rouzer For Failing To Hold A Town Hall Since 2017. According to WWAY, "Rouzer—a previous ally to Trump—has remained quiet about the president’s actions, though protestors at the rally feel he should be doing more. [Brunswick County Democratic Party Chair Shelley] Allen said Rouzer has not held an official town hall meeting with constituents since 2017. ‘We never get to talk to him, we never get to tell him how we’re feeling, and he works for us as our representative and we should be able to do that,’ she said. WWAY reached out to Rep. Rouzer’s office for comment. We have not received a response as of Thursday evening." [WWAY, 3/6/25]
¶ At The Social Security Administration, DOGE Forced Mass Layoffs, Longer Wait Times And Frequent Website Crashes
HEADLINE: "Social Security Stops Reporting Call Wait Times And Other Metrics" [Washington Post, 6/20/25]
HEADLINE: "As Social Security Services Are Cut Back, Millions Of Seniors Face Long Drives" [Axios, 4/8/25]
HEADLINE: "Social Security Website Keeps Crashing, As DOGE Demands Cuts To IT Staff" [Washington Post, 4/7/25]
HEADLINE: "Social Security Faces Thousands More Job Cuts Even With Service In Tailspin" [Washington Post, 4/4/25]
HEADLINE: “DOGE Cuts Trim Funding For Arts And Humanities Efforts In Minnesota” [MinnPost, 4/8/25]
CBPP Said The Trump Administration Had Pushed Out 7,000 Social Security Workers. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "Over the past five months, the Trump Administration has forced the Social Security Administration (SSA) through a radical transformation that threatens to disrupt services for the largely older and severely disabled people who most rely on the agency.[1] The Trump Administration and its so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have created huge gaps in customer service and support by indiscriminately pushing out 7,000 workers to hit an arbitrary staffing reduction target. This is the largest staffing cut in SSA’s history.[2] (See Figure 1.)" [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 6/23/25]
The Social Security Administration Website Crashed Four Times In Ten Days In March Because Servers Were Overloaded. According to the Washington Post, "The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
Field Office Managers At Social Security Offices Had To Answer Phones In Place Of Receptionists Because DOGE Had Pushed Out So Many Federal Employees. According to the Washington Post, "The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
DOGE Eliminated The Social Security Administration’s System To Monitor Customer Experience. According to the Washington Post, "The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
Early February-Late March 2025: AARP Said More Than 2,000 People Per Week Had Called Expressing Concerns About Whether They Would Continue To Get Their Social Security Benefits. According to the Washington Post, "Alarmed lawmakers are straining to answer questions back home from angry constituents. Calls have flooded into congressional offices. AARP announced Monday that more than 2,000 people a week have called the retiree organization since early February — double the usual number — with concerns about whether benefits they paid for during their working careers will continue. Social Security is the primary source of income for about 40 percent of older Americans." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
¶ More Than 214,000 North Carolinians In The 7th District Relied On Social Security Benefits
214,870 North Carolinians In The 7th Congressional District Relied On Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 214,870 North Carolinians in the 7th congressional district received Social Security benefits. [Social Security Administration, North Carolina, 2024]
¶ DOGE cuts in north carolina hurt education, public health, mental health, and maternal health efforts
HEADLINE: "Doge Is Touting Its ‘Greatest Hits.’ A Closer Look Reveals Crushing Cuts." [NOTUS, 7/8/25]
HEADLINE: "Teacher Training And Disease Tracking Programs Slashed By DOGE In North Carolina" [News 2 (WFMY), 4/21/25]
DOGE Cut At Least 75 Grants Totaling More Than $714 Million Of Funding For North Carolina, Including $11 Million For The SERVE Center At UNC Greensboro, Which Researched Ways To Help Students Thrive In And Out Of The Classroom. According to News 2 (WFMY), "What we found: At least 75 grants across the state are being slashed, totaling more than $714 million in lost funding. One of the most significant cuts locally is hitting the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro, which is losing over $11 million in Department of Education funding. The SERVE Center researches ways to help students thrive both in and out of the classroom. The Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement at UNCG, Dr. Sherine Obare, says the cut will mean ‘we are no longer able to do that specific work. However, there are other programs that SERVE carries out that support K-12 schools, and we will support those schools as much as we can.’" [News 2 (WFMY), 4/21/25]
DOGE Cuts In North Carolina Included Cuts To Research Focused On Preventing Black Maternal Deaths During Childbirth, Research On Suicide Prevention Efforts Focused On Black Youth, And Legal Aid To Help Fight Housing Discrimination. According to News 2 (WFMY), "Some smaller—but no less meaningful—cuts include: $410,000 to UNC Chapel Hill for research focused on preventing Black maternal deaths during childbirth. $380,000 to UNC Charlotte for suicide prevention efforts focused on Black youth. $190,000 to Legal Aid of North Carolina to help fight housing discrimination." [News 2 (WFMY), 4/21/25]
DOGE Cuts Meant A Loss Of At Least $171 Million For The North Carolina Department Of Human Services, Which Said It Would Have To Eliminate At Least 80 Jobs And The Cuts Would Affect Immunization Efforts, Infectious Disease Tracking, Behavioral Health Programs, And Substance Use Disorder Services. According to News 2 (WFMY), "The North Carolina Department of Human Services is taking one of the biggest hits, losing at least $171 million. A spokesperson tells us the department will have to eliminate at least 80 jobs and that the cuts will directly affect: Immunization efforts The new NC Immunization Registry Infectious disease tracking and response Behavioral health programs Substance use disorder services State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore recently warned that these cuts could have serious consequences for public health. ‘If those programs were to go away, it would mean that we would lose our ability to be able to track what kinds of infections are circulating in our communities and to be able to respond quickly … I worry that we'll see a lot more cases and outbreaks of diseases,’ he said." [News 2 (WFMY), 4/21/25]
HEADLINE: "More Than 20 Government Facilities In North Carolina On The Chopping Block Amid DOGE Cuts" [NC Newsline, 3/7/25]