By Stephen Cohen
This essay has been edited from Stephen’s LinkedIn post.
Younger folks call me “pops” when they see me in road races, in the weight room, or on a basketball court — and “sir” everywhere else. I appreciate getting noticed and not being invisible.
I left 65 behind me over thirteen years ago. Of the guys I grew up with in the neighborhood in Philadelphia (we called ourselves the “Sweet 16”), five of us are still above ground. The other eleven passed from maladies enhanced by booze, red meat, and too much of everything — including tobacco (and more booze).
Watching the One Big Beautiful Bill debates, it struck me that as the largest single group in America — the one that requires the largest slice of our economic pie through SSI and medical care — that we are woefully underrepresented. Our concerns, challenges, and needs do not have a unified voice. We have the AARP, but that’s the voice of discounts and standard lobbying, and is not a powerful voice.
So, I propose the creation of a Department of Senior Affairs (DSA), a Cabinet-level agency dedicated to advocating for and addressing the needs of our nation’s seniors.
Seniors represent 18% of the U.S. population today — 62 million people — a number projected to grow to 84 million (23% of the population) by 2054. Despite this significant demographic shift, the concerns of seniors do not receive the focused legislative or administrative attention they deserve. While veterans, who comprise 6.2% of the population, have rightly been granted a dedicated Cabinet-level department, seniors — who represent a vastly larger share of government services and expenditures — have no singular agency championing their needs.
The DSA would serve as the national advocate for seniors, ensuring their rights, well being, and access to essential services. It would be responsible for:
- Protecting legal rights, fair treatment, and disbursement of required benefits
- Championing affordable housing, healthcare, prescription drugs, and proper nutrition
- Addressing mental health, social engagement, and lifestyle improvements for a better aging experience
- Preventing fraud, elder abuse, and financial exploitation
