Kathleen Romig
@kathleenromig.bsky.social
📊 Director of Social Security and Disability Policy at @centeronbudget
🏛️ Proud former fed: SSA, CRS, OMB, SSAB
🏛️ Proud former fed: SSA, CRS, OMB, SSAB
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
Alice Wong, Writer and Relentless Advocate for Disability Rights, Dies at 51
Born with muscular dystrophy, she received a MacArthur “Genius” grant in 2024 for her decades of calling attention to the need for equal rights for disabled people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/u...
Born with muscular dystrophy, she received a MacArthur “Genius” grant in 2024 for her decades of calling attention to the need for equal rights for disabled people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/u...
Alice Wong, Writer and Relentless Advocate for Disability Rights, Dies at 51
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Alice Wong, Writer and Relentless Advocate for Disability Rights, Dies at 51
Born with muscular dystrophy, she received a MacArthur “Genius” grant in 2024 for her decades of calling attention to the need for equal rights for disabled people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/u...
Born with muscular dystrophy, she received a MacArthur “Genius” grant in 2024 for her decades of calling attention to the need for equal rights for disabled people.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/u...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
(AP) — A confidant of Bill Pulte .. provided confidential mortgage pricing data from Fannie Mae to a principal competitor, alarming senior officials .. who warned it could expose the company to claims that it was colluding with a rival to fix mortgage rates.
apnews.com/article/fann...
apnews.com/article/fann...
November 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
(AP) — A confidant of Bill Pulte .. provided confidential mortgage pricing data from Fannie Mae to a principal competitor, alarming senior officials .. who warned it could expose the company to claims that it was colluding with a rival to fix mortgage rates.
apnews.com/article/fann...
apnews.com/article/fann...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
NEW: DHS is pushing ahead in building a searchable national citizenship system it wants to use to go through voter rolls.
Over 46 million voters have been run through the checks already.
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
Over 46 million voters have been run through the checks already.
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
DHS expanding citizenship system for voter verification, despite concerns about potential disenfranchisement
Twenty-six states are in line to use a revamped DHS system to check their voter rolls for non-citizens, although the network has raised concerns about privacy and accuracy — including if it could kick...
www.nextgov.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:02 PM
NEW: DHS is pushing ahead in building a searchable national citizenship system it wants to use to go through voter rolls.
Over 46 million voters have been run through the checks already.
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
Over 46 million voters have been run through the checks already.
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
I wish I could take credit for the phrase "new heights of flouting" but that came from the team at @theunpopulist.net who gave me the space for this take on the current landscape of congressional vs. executive power over spending. www.theunpopulist.net/p/founders-w...
Founders Would Be Horrified by Congress's Surrender of its Power of the Purse to POTUS
The shutdown is testimony to how a subservient legislature makes governance dysfunctional
www.theunpopulist.net
November 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I wish I could take credit for the phrase "new heights of flouting" but that came from the team at @theunpopulist.net who gave me the space for this take on the current landscape of congressional vs. executive power over spending. www.theunpopulist.net/p/founders-w...
A Trump appointee probes sensitive mortgage docs & refers critics for criminal prosecution.
When the FHFA IG hands over docs related to the case, he's fired.
When Fannie Mae watchdogs investigate, they're removed too.
It's just the latest Admin attack on oversight. 🧵
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
When the FHFA IG hands over docs related to the case, he's fired.
When Fannie Mae watchdogs investigate, they're removed too.
It's just the latest Admin attack on oversight. 🧵
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
November 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A Trump appointee probes sensitive mortgage docs & refers critics for criminal prosecution.
When the FHFA IG hands over docs related to the case, he's fired.
When Fannie Mae watchdogs investigate, they're removed too.
It's just the latest Admin attack on oversight. 🧵
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
When the FHFA IG hands over docs related to the case, he's fired.
When Fannie Mae watchdogs investigate, they're removed too.
It's just the latest Admin attack on oversight. 🧵
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
It is disgusting to see the agency in charge of LEGAL immigration celebrating a reduction in the total immigrant population. It shows that its goals are not the law and the best interest of the United States, but rather a weirdo obsession with birthplace over merit.
November 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
It is disgusting to see the agency in charge of LEGAL immigration celebrating a reduction in the total immigrant population. It shows that its goals are not the law and the best interest of the United States, but rather a weirdo obsession with birthplace over merit.
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
She doesn't even say those dead people were necessarily receiving benefits. It's the same shit Elon Musk tried to pull with Social Security. 3 million people die in the U.S. every year.
She says, "we found almost 200,000 dead people," but doesn't finish the sentence with "...receiving benefits."
She says, "we found almost 200,000 dead people," but doesn't finish the sentence with "...receiving benefits."
Brooke Rollins: "SNAP is a broken program. SNAP is full of corruption. We found 186,000 dead people."
November 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
She doesn't even say those dead people were necessarily receiving benefits. It's the same shit Elon Musk tried to pull with Social Security. 3 million people die in the U.S. every year.
She says, "we found almost 200,000 dead people," but doesn't finish the sentence with "...receiving benefits."
She says, "we found almost 200,000 dead people," but doesn't finish the sentence with "...receiving benefits."
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
The Trump Admin's shameful attacks on kids with disabilities are happening on every front: legislation (OBBB), regs, and RIFs. The Social Security Administration's new proposed rule to limit SSI eligibility is yet another example. 1/ firstfocus.org/update/recen...
Recent Actions by the Trump Administration Target Children with Disabilities
Proposed rules, reductions in force, threaten roughly 100,000 children who rely on Supplemental Security Income, plus others in need of support and
firstfocus.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The Trump Admin's shameful attacks on kids with disabilities are happening on every front: legislation (OBBB), regs, and RIFs. The Social Security Administration's new proposed rule to limit SSI eligibility is yet another example. 1/ firstfocus.org/update/recen...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on SNAP. In my latest @19thnews.org, I talk to a bunch of policy people and economists, as well as Kajeana Tillman, who lives in the Bronx and just wants to get groceries like she usually does.
SNAP benefits are a ‘lifeline’ — especially for people with disabilities
For those with disabilities who rely on the aid, its uncertainty threatens not just nutrition, but independence.
19thnews.org
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 PM
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on SNAP. In my latest @19thnews.org, I talk to a bunch of policy people and economists, as well as Kajeana Tillman, who lives in the Bronx and just wants to get groceries like she usually does.
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
My latest on the lessons from the Administration's horrific freeze of SNAP food assistance.
Balkinization: What the Administration’s SNAP Freeze Teaches Us share.google/PSeuJtcugMGO...
Balkinization: What the Administration’s SNAP Freeze Teaches Us share.google/PSeuJtcugMGO...
What the Administration’s SNAP Freeze Teaches Us
For more than a decade, Congress has provided a contingency reserve to fund the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP) during g...
share.google
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
My latest on the lessons from the Administration's horrific freeze of SNAP food assistance.
Balkinization: What the Administration’s SNAP Freeze Teaches Us share.google/PSeuJtcugMGO...
Balkinization: What the Administration’s SNAP Freeze Teaches Us share.google/PSeuJtcugMGO...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
New at Can We Still Govern: The IRS is a key agency and its decline is emblematic of Trump-era mismanagement.
@vanessawilliamson.bsky.social & Eliis Chen lay out the questions that Democrats should be asking its new leader.
Incredibly informative piece.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/five-quest...
@vanessawilliamson.bsky.social & Eliis Chen lay out the questions that Democrats should be asking its new leader.
Incredibly informative piece.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/five-quest...
Five Questions for IRS CEO Frank Bisignano
The IRS has a new leader – maybe he can tell us whats happening
donmoynihan.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:17 PM
New at Can We Still Govern: The IRS is a key agency and its decline is emblematic of Trump-era mismanagement.
@vanessawilliamson.bsky.social & Eliis Chen lay out the questions that Democrats should be asking its new leader.
Incredibly informative piece.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/five-quest...
@vanessawilliamson.bsky.social & Eliis Chen lay out the questions that Democrats should be asking its new leader.
Incredibly informative piece.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/five-quest...
Trump's retaliatory firing of the Fannie Mae IG is merely the latest in a series of actions to undermine any meaningful oversight of his Administration. We wrote about the whole picture last week:
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
November 11, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Trump's retaliatory firing of the Fannie Mae IG is merely the latest in a series of actions to undermine any meaningful oversight of his Administration. We wrote about the whole picture last week:
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
Ok but GUYS MY BOOK IS ACTUALLY OUT TODAY
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Ok but GUYS MY BOOK IS ACTUALLY OUT TODAY
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
YOU CAN GO AND GET A COPY AND READ IT AND EVERYTHING
www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/vanes...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
HSAs are tax shelters masquerading as health policy. They don't help people who are struggling to afford health coverage.
Read more from @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/fh5rabhx
Read more from @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/fh5rabhx
Expanding Health Savings Accounts Would Do Little to Improve Access to Affordable Health Care
Amid the urgent debate over whether Congress will act to prevent cost increases for millions of people in 2026 marketplace plans, some Republicans are promoting expansions of health savings accounts.....
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
HSAs are tax shelters masquerading as health policy. They don't help people who are struggling to afford health coverage.
Read more from @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/fh5rabhx
Read more from @nicolerapfogel.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/fh5rabhx
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
Jesus the administration is STILL fighting to keep 40 million people hungry www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to intervene in SNAP fight again
The battle over funding for the nation’s largest anti-hunger program has left millions wondering how they will afford food.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Jesus the administration is STILL fighting to keep 40 million people hungry www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Even as the Social Security Administration falsely claims that phone wait times are down to single-digit minutes, callers are recording dance routines to the hold music as they wait over two hours . . . equal parts adorable and horrifying!
parade.com/news/80s-sta...
parade.com/news/80s-sta...
parade.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Even as the Social Security Administration falsely claims that phone wait times are down to single-digit minutes, callers are recording dance routines to the hold music as they wait over two hours . . . equal parts adorable and horrifying!
parade.com/news/80s-sta...
parade.com/news/80s-sta...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
Astonishing how hard this administration is working to keep people hungry.
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
Yikes. USDA sent threatening letter to states telling them that if they sent out EBT money —which many states did during the window when a lower court said SNAP funds had to be released—they have to take it back (?)
Trying to sort out what this means and if states even can claw back the funds
Trying to sort out what this means and if states even can claw back the funds
November 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Astonishing how hard this administration is working to keep people hungry.
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
November 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I asked Georgetown law prof David Super wtf is going on with this latest demand for states to claw back benefits already sent out.
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
He says the law doesn't allow for this, and if the USDA is mad that states already sent out SNAP money, too bad—they were following USDA's own guidance. Full comments:
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
The Trump administration is now literally *fighting* to deny food to 42 million people, more than a third of them children.
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The Trump administration is now literally *fighting* to deny food to 42 million people, more than a third of them children.
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Read that again.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
SNAP surveys SNAP users. Already half of them are saying they are skipping meals.
November 6, 2025 at 9:21 PM
SNAP surveys SNAP users. Already half of them are saying they are skipping meals.
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
What are the effects of the shutdown on SNAP users? Propel provides an app to SNAP users to allow them to track their spending and so can offer real-time estimates of needs.
About 70% of SNAP households have a $10 or less balance on their SNAP card accounts.
www.propel.app/shutdown-fun...
About 70% of SNAP households have a $10 or less balance on their SNAP card accounts.
www.propel.app/shutdown-fun...
November 6, 2025 at 9:18 PM
What are the effects of the shutdown on SNAP users? Propel provides an app to SNAP users to allow them to track their spending and so can offer real-time estimates of needs.
About 70% of SNAP households have a $10 or less balance on their SNAP card accounts.
www.propel.app/shutdown-fun...
About 70% of SNAP households have a $10 or less balance on their SNAP card accounts.
www.propel.app/shutdown-fun...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
Shutdowns hurt people and it will be good news when the government reopens.
But it is vital that Congress also address both the looming massive spike in health care costs for 20M *and* deliver a funding deal that the President can’t undo the parts he just doesn’t like. 🧵
But it is vital that Congress also address both the looming massive spike in health care costs for 20M *and* deliver a funding deal that the President can’t undo the parts he just doesn’t like. 🧵
November 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Shutdowns hurt people and it will be good news when the government reopens.
But it is vital that Congress also address both the looming massive spike in health care costs for 20M *and* deliver a funding deal that the President can’t undo the parts he just doesn’t like. 🧵
But it is vital that Congress also address both the looming massive spike in health care costs for 20M *and* deliver a funding deal that the President can’t undo the parts he just doesn’t like. 🧵
President Trump just fired yet another Inspector General—the latest in a series of unprecedented, irresponsible & often illegal steps to evade accountability.
Our latest explains how undercutting oversight hurts taxpayers & beneficiaries, including at Social Security.
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Our latest explains how undercutting oversight hurts taxpayers & beneficiaries, including at Social Security.
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Trump Administration’s Undercutting of Oversight Hurts Taxpayers and Beneficiaries
Since the start of President Trump’s second term in January, the Trump Administration has consistently sought to evade accountability. Last month, the President removed a Senate-confirmed Inspector Ge...
www.cbpp.org
November 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
President Trump just fired yet another Inspector General—the latest in a series of unprecedented, irresponsible & often illegal steps to evade accountability.
Our latest explains how undercutting oversight hurts taxpayers & beneficiaries, including at Social Security.
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Our latest explains how undercutting oversight hurts taxpayers & beneficiaries, including at Social Security.
www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
Reposted by Kathleen Romig
The Social Security Administration used to have an incredible communications arm, including even a film unit. This was crucial in helping people understand the program, and how it would work. From 1936, 1939.
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
November 6, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The Social Security Administration used to have an incredible communications arm, including even a film unit. This was crucial in helping people understand the program, and how it would work. From 1936, 1939.
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...