Monterey Times

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing California's 19th district, voiced his concerns through a series of tweets regarding recent policy decisions affecting American citizens. The tweets, posted on March 26, 2025, covered issues related to the Social Security Administration, federal food aid, and tariff policies. Panetta, who has been serving since 2017, continues to advocate for the well-being of his constituents.

Panetta criticized the state of affairs at the Social Security Administration, attributing disruptions faced by beneficiaries to budgetary decisions. On March 26, he remarked that "What’s happening at the Social Security Administration is nothing short of sabotage. Millions of Americans who earned their benefits are being met with crashing websites, endless hold times, and closed doors, all because of reckless cuts and chaos orchestrated by Elon Musk’s DOGE”.

Highlighting the impact of federal policies on local communities, Panetta directed criticism at the Trump Administration’s suspension of federal food aid. He stated on the same day that "The Trump Admin’s suspension of over $1B in federal food aid is hurting families in CA-19, including 177,000 pounds of food meant for Second Harvest in Santa Cruz County. I’ll keep fighting with my Farmers Feeding America Act to strengthen support for our food banks”.

In another statement made later on March 26, Panetta discussed the administration’s tariff policy. He claimed that "This Admin’s inconsistent 'shoot now, aim later' approach on tariffs tangibly undermines our ability to work with partners and expand trade, and small businesses are getting caught in the crosshairs”. This tweet emphasizes the challenges posed to small businesses by current trade strategies.