Good Trouble Lives On - AFT Retirees Activist Update - July 14, 2025
MAGA notched a victory for the billionaire class by passing the One Big Beautiful Bill. Working people take to the streets on July 17 to show that we remain united in the face of oligarchy.
Ten days ago, President Trump signed the Republican Budget Reconciliation bill into law. The act marks the largest cuts to health care in US history, adding at least $3.3 trillion to the national debt, all while giving historic tax breaks to billionaires and the wealthiest among us. The Alliance for Retired Americans has published a new fact sheet outlining the harms that will be done to retirees as a result of this legislation.
In addition to the well publicized cuts to Medicaid, this bill will compromise the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds, slash SNAP benefits for as many as 6.5 million seniors, shelter more prescription drugs from government price negotiations and it sets the annual budget for ICE at approximately $37.5 billion — which is higher than the total military expenditures of all but 15 countries.
Working people may have lost this battle but we cannot afford to give up now. As unionists, we know that the power we have is strongest when we stand united. Whether you are outraged by attacks on voting rights, the gutting of essential services, the disappearances of our neighbors or the assault on free speech and our right to protest — now is the time to make our stand.
The AFTerburners will have our team meeting tomorrow at 2pm Eastern Time and then on Thursday, July 17 we will take to the streets in thousands of communities across the country in memory of Representative John Lewis. He was inspired by Rosa Parks to get into Good Trouble and so we carry on the legacy of of these two giants of the American Civil Rights movement by coming together to help redeem the soul of our country.
Read on for the next Team Meeting zoom information and to sign up for a Good Trouble Lives On event in your community.
Oligarchy Watch
Welcome to the AFTerburner’s newest segment — Oligarchy Watch. We track the latest news from Trump’s Cabinet of Oligarchs as it relates to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and older Americans, so you don’t have to.
The AFL-CIO published a report in June on Antonio Gracias, long time friend of Elon Musk, CEO of Valor Equity Partners, current DOGE operative at the Social Security Administration and chief of its immigration task force in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. According to the report, Gracias’ Private Equity firm, Valor, manages $17.5 billion in assets including funds from public employee retirement plans on behalf of CalPERS, CalSTRS, Illinois State Board of Investment, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, New York State Common Retirement Fund, NYSTRS, NYCERS, Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York and the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement.
Gracias, in his DOGE role at SSA, claimed credit for the debunked allegation that millions of undocumented immigrants were collecting Social Security. As ICE continues to enhance its deportation capabilities by incorporating data from SSA, bolstered by $170 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill, coordination between SSA and DHS will only increase. While Gracias’ level of involvement in this coordination is not yet fully understood, the AFL-CIO report raises valid, due-diligence questions regarding conflicts of interest and his ability to devote time both to DOGE and Valor while meeting the standards of fiduciary responsibilities.
While there were many reasons for Musk’s departure from DOGE in May, pressure from Tesla shareholders played a major role in influencing the decision. Stock valuations for the company plummeted in the wake of Musk’s entry into politics and government operations. If concerns from public employee pension fund beneficiaries regarding Gracias’ role at DOGE are substantiated, similar to Musk’s situation, his role at DOGE may not be long for this world.
Quote for July
"When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something."
― Representative John Lewis
Next Team Meeting
The next AFTerburners Team Meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15 at 2:00pm Eastern Time. The Zoom information for our upcoming meeting is below.
July 15 Team Meeting Zoom Information:
NEW! Register for our Team Meeting via Mobilize.
Link: https://aft.zoom.us/j/98410764231?pwd=QlNaL0RjK08vVzc5WHF0UVhmSzJKZz09
Meeting ID: 984 1076 4231
Passcode: 101511
Featured Activity
Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action
Thursday, July 17 - All Day
We are facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations. Whether you’re outraged by attacks on voting rights, the gutting of essential services, disappearances of our neighbors or the assault on free speech and our right to protest - this movement is for you. On July 17th, March in Peace, Act in Power. Across America, Let’s Make Good Trouble.
Click Here to Register for an Event in Your Community!
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