Kean stood by while Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” destroyed services New Jerseyans rely on, calling the effort a “necessary step.” Meanwhile, DOGE-driven cuts and downsizing were affecting the federal government’s ability to deliver services to seniors. More than 152,000 New Jerseyans in Kean’s district relied on Social Security benefits.
Kean Claimed DOGE And The Trump Administration’s Cuts Were A “Necessary Step.” According to a tele-town hall hosted by Rep. Tom Kean, “QUESTION: Congressman, do you support the work that Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to cut federal government agencies across the board and layoff thousands of federal employees? KEAN: I do support federal government spending that reflects the needs and the priorities of the American people. It is well past due that the federal government has a 21st century accounting system and puts a premium on both transparency and accountability. Past administrations, both Republicans and Democrats have advocated and done this with great success. Right now, we are paying $2.5 billion in interest payments on our national debt on a daily basis. I do not support turning a blind eye to any waste, fraud and abuse whatsoever. We need to make sure we also are protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security for their intended beneficiaries, which we all know that we've seen numerous examples of inappropriate spending at home and abroad. This is a necessary step. Thank you." [Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Tele Town Hall, 3/26/25] (audio)
March 2025: Kean Had No Comment When Asked For His Opinion On DOGE Federal Cuts. According to NJ Spotlight News, "Spokespeople for Kean did not respond when asked if the congressman supports cuts Musk’s group has made. When approached by an NJ Spotlight News reporter Wednesday afternoon at the Capitol, Kean did not comment." [NJ Spotlight News, 3/6/25]
HEADLINE: “Anti-Musk Activists Protest Outside Kean’s Office” [Insider NJ, 2/18/25]
HEADLINE: "'Call Your Congressman': NJ Residents Flood Lawmakers' Phone Lines As Trump Agenda Unfolds" [Daily Recorder, 2/18/25]
HEADLINE: "Kean Phones In 'Townhall' With No Live Questions" [Insider NJ, 3/26/25]
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, 6/8/25]
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]
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]
2024: 152,644 New Jersey Residents In The 7th Congressional District Relied On Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 152,644 New Jersey residents in the 7th congressional district received Social Security benefits. [Social Security Administration, New Jersey, 2024]
There Were More Than 22,500 Federal Workers In New Jersey. According to North Jersey, “The Trump administration hasn't yet publicly broken down how many federal workers in each state have taken the buyout, but New Jersey has 22,504 federal workers.” [North Jersey, 2/18/25]
DOGE Slashed Grants To New Jersey’s AmeriCorps Program, Which Affected 500 Members Of 27 Organizations In The State, Including A Nonprofit That Runs A Food Pantry And Homeless Shelter. According the New Jersey Herald, "The task force overseen by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump's administration canceled about $400 million in grants handed out nationwide, a Washington Post report said. The money comes from AmeriCorps, a government organization that offers various programs to help address community services such as education, environmental conservation and poverty. The cuts affect roughly 500 members of 27 organizations based in New Jersey, including groups at Montclair State University and all three Rutgers campuses, in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden. Other local groups on the list include Zufall Health Center in Dover; the Social-Emotional Learning Alliance for New Jersey based in Morris Township; and St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation in Paterson. AmeriCorps participants from St. Paul's work at a food pantry, homeless shelter and elementary school program. The nonprofit corporation has 12 AmeriCorps participants for each year, with an additional 10 during the summer, said Executive Director Richard Williams." [New Jersey Herald, 4/29/25]
HEADLINE: “Federal DOGE Cuts Under Trump Threaten These NOAA, US Fish & Wildlife Services In NJ” [Asbury Park Press, 3/25/25]
HEADLINE: “Federal Cuts Threaten Affordable Housing In New Jersey, Officials And Advocates Say” [New Jersey Monitor, 3/18/25]
HEADLINE: “Mobile Health Clinic In Highland Park To Lose Funding Due To DOGE Cuts” [New Jersey News 12, 4/1/25]
HEADLINE: “DOGE Budget Cuts Translate Into Service, Job Cuts In NYC And NJ Communities” [Gothamist, 3/4/25]
The Independent Reported That Kean Was Known For His Silence On Issues As A Congressman. According to the Independent, “Kean, the son of former New Jersey governor Tom Kean, has notoriously implored the silent treatment during his tenure as a U.S. representative. Over the last year, reporters have struggled to have even a basic conversation with the Republican representative because Kean refuses to talk about any of his policies or positions.” [Independent, 10/15/24]
HEADLINE: “Cowards In Congress: Kean Quiet As Trump Assaults Democracy, Law, And Integrity” [NJ Today, 2/21/25]
HEADLINE: “Tom Kean Jr. Hides From Workers As Fellow House Republican Faces Viral Backlash For GOP Agenda Of Ripping Jobs Away, Cutting Health Care” [Insider NJ, 2/21/25]
HEADLINE: “House Speaker Says GOP Has ‘Obligation’ To ‘Eliminate’ Medicaid. Tom Kean Jr. MIA.” [Insider NJ, 2/20/25]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: “Rep. Kean’s Back Hiding Under His Desk” [Betsy Clarke Letter to the Editor - New Jersey Star-Ledger, 1/26/25]
HEADLINE: “Republican Rep Goes Silent For Eight Seconds When Asked If He Supports Trump’s Deportation Policy” [Independent, 10/15/24] (video)
OPINION: “MAGA NJ Congressman Kean Jr., Always Silent, Should Just Quit” [Opinion - Advance Local, 9/27/24]
HEADLINE: “Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Refuses To Answer, Anything” [NJ Spotlight News, 9/25/24]