The New, National Retirement Security Task Force

(This article appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)

The National Retirement Security Task Force is the evolution of the National Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO) Repeal Task Force! To reflect its expanded mission more accurately, the National WEP/GPO Repeal Task Force has become the National Retirement Security Task Force. The Task Force is still a grassroots, nonpartisan, political advocacy organization. The revised Task Force name more clearly embodies the continued commitment to advancing and protecting the Social Security system and related agencies and services critical to retirees, older Americans, and their families.

By engaging and mobilizing stakeholders, the Task Force’s mission is to:

1. Safeguard Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and the benefits they provide.
2. Advocate for long-term fiscal sustainability of these programs.
3. Actively engage with legislative bodies and other stakeholders to influence responsible and equitable policy-making.
4. Provide accurate and reliable information about related governmental policies and agencies. 
5. Oppose privatization of these agencies and their programs.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare presented some of the impacts of the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 1), which include:

• $1 trillion or more in Medicaid cuts over ten years. The New, National Retirement Security Task Force Nancy Olumekor, Director
• $295 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts over 10 years, causing more than 22 million families, including children, seniors, and working families, to lose access to SNAP or receive reduced benefits.
• $4 trillion increase to the debt limit.

What’s NOT in the new law: the end of taxation of Social Security benefits. Instead, there is a $6,000 tax deduction for ages 65 and older, effective tax years 2025 to 2028.

What do we do now? 

• Alert the public about how draconian the Medicaid and SNAP cuts will be.
• Explain to the media what can be expected in the next few years.
• Let your lawmakers know your concerns about the future of Medicaid and SNAP, and
• Support senior-friendly candidates and incumbents who run for the House and Senate in 2026. ■