Chicago activists rally against proposed cuts to Medicaid and Social Security

CHICAGO (WGN) — As progressive protests persist in Chicago and across the country against cuts to federally funded programs, a voice on Chicago’s West Side brought focus to two specific programs Sunday—Medicaid and Social Security.

“People are at a point where they’re scared to death,” State Rep. Danny Davis said. “We are saying to President Trump and all the Trumpeteers, ‘hands off social security … leave our social security alone.'”

Davis was among those gathered in the Austin neighborhood Sunday, helping launch an online petition against potential budget cuts to the programs.

Sunday on NBC’s Meet The Press, Trump was asked if he would veto cuts to Social Security. The sitting U.S. President said yes, but with a caveat.

“I would if they were cutting it, but they’re not cutting it. They’re looking at fraud, waste and abuse. And nobody minds that,” Trump said. “If people that aren’t supposed to be there, people that are non-citizens are in the mix, nobody minds that. Waste, fraud and abuse. But we’re not cutting Medicaid, we’re not cutting Medicare, and we’re not cutting Social Security.”

An analysis by the non-partisan Economic Policy Institute looked at potential Elon Musk-led DOGE cuts to Social Security, calling it “sabotage,” saying in part, “The only way that slashing the number of workers will save large sums money is by making it hard for people to access benefits they’ve earned.”

EPI’s full analysis can be read by clicking here.

“Healthcare is not Republican nor Democrat, it is the need of life survival,” activist Cherita Logan said.

Activists like Logan said they will continue to pressure Democratic leaders to block budgets that gut federal programs relied on by millions.

“We cannot turn our backs on our seniors we cannot turn our backs on our poor,” Logan said. “We should not be putting the spirit of fear into a person, but of hope.”