¶ Overview
Nunn claimed “the American dream was alive and well under Trump” even though DOGE-driven cuts and downsizing were affecting the federal government’s ability to deliver services to seniors. More than 157,328 Iowans in Nunn’s district relied on Social Security benefits.
¶ Nunn Defended The Trump Administration Even Though Its Policies Resulted In Major Disruptions For Iowans, Their Jobs, And Their Services
¶ Nunn: “The American Dream Is Alive and Well Under Trump”
March 2025: Nunn Claimed “The American Dream Was Alive And Well Under President Trump.” According to a post on Rep. Zach Nunn’s Twitter,
[Twitter, @ZachNunn, 3/4/25]
¶ Nunn Defended Trump’s Illegal Federal Funding Freeze and Ignored the Chaos It Brought to Farmers, Workers, and Medicaid
Nunn Defended Trump’s Freeze On Federal Grants And Said It Was Necessary To Reform D.C. Spending Habits. According to We Are Iowa, "The federal funding freeze, which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge Tuesday night, could impact everything from law enforcement agencies to schools to housing assistance programs and arts organizations. […] NUNN: ‘It’s clear that Congress must reform D.C.’s spending habits while protecting critical programs Iowans rely on, like Medicare, Head Start, Social Security, veterans benefits, and more,’ Rep. Zach Nunn in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District said. ‘My mission remains the same as it did on day one: to deliver Iowa common sense. I’ll continue to fight for bipartisan compromise to cut unnecessary federal spending and safeguard those crucial programs.’" [We Are Iowa, 1/28/25]
- **HEADLINE: “Iowa Farmers Are Relying On Now-Frozen Regional Food Infrastructure Grants” [**Iowa Capital Dispatch, 2/26/25]
- HEADLINE: "States Lose Access To Medicaid Payment Portal Amid Trump Federal Aid Freeze" [The Hill, 1/28/25]
- HEADLINE: “Blocked Federal Funding Freeze Raises Concerns Among Iowa Nonprofits” [KCCI Des Moines (CBS), 1/29/25]
- HEADLINE: “Iowa Worker Anticipates Losing Job Over Federal Funds Freeze” [We Are Iowa, 1/29/25]
- HEADLINE: “'It's Brutal:' Sudden Grants Cuts Devastate Iowa Museums, Libraries And Cultural Nonprofits” [Des Moines Register, 4/21/25]
- HEADLINE: “A Second Federal Judge Has Ruled To Block The Trump Administration's Spending Freeze” [NPR, 3/6/25]
¶ At The Social Security Administration, Trump Administration Had 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, 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]
¶ More than 157,000 Iowans in The 3rd Congressional District Relied on Social Security Benefits
2024: 157,328 Iowans In The 3rd Congressional District Relied On Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 157,328 Iowans in The 3rd congressional district received Social Security benefits. [Social Security Administration, Iowa, 2024]