Hands Off Social Security: Reston Indivisible Protests Layoffs At Agency

RESTON, VA — Although the temperature in Reston at 10 a.m. on Tuessday was 87 degrees, a small group of demonstrators had gathered along Sunrise Valley Drive to protest the layoffs of thousands of Social Security Administration employees since the Trump administration took office in January.

"We're trying to say, 'Hands off of Social Security,' said Diana Smith of Reston, who is a member of the local Defend Democracy Indivisible group.

Since April 4, the group has shown up outside the Social Security building every other Tuesday to protest.

"Instead of always going downtown to protest, we're looking for our local institutions to protect. Right now, Social Security is under attack, especially with the passage of the Big, Beautiful Bill. We just want to keep people's attention focused on what they could lose with what's going on."

Since billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency embarked on a cost-cutting mission at Social Security earlier this year, the agency has already lost 7,000 employees, according to the Associated Press.

Last week, Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead Social Security, told lawmakers he intends to improve accuracy in payments and raise morale at the agency, AP reported.

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“Increased staffing is not the long term solution,” Bisignano told lawmakers, vowing instead to invest in technology so that the agency could function with fewer workers, as reported by AP. “We will do this by becoming a digital-first, technology-led organization that puts the public as our focal point.”

The regular demonstrations in Reston originally started at 11 a.m., but with summer heat increasing, a small group will begin to show up around 9:30 a.m. to hold up signs and wave to passersby on Sunrise Valley Drive.

"I am trying to save democracy for my grandchildren," said protestor Carol Even of Reston. I'm very worried that it's going to be history that isn't even talked about in the future."

"We've been coming out here every Tuesday to try to stop all the cuts to all the benefits that are so important, even to Trump voters," said Reston resident Sara, who did not give her last name.

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting of this story.