EL PASO - Social security employees in El Paso and across the country are planning protests today against federal budget cuts and the potential for a government shutdown.

Local protests will take place at the El Paso Social Security Office from 12 p.m.-1 p.m.

The demonstrators are upset over what they call the devastating impact federal budget cuts will have on their office.

They say those cuts will result in longer waits for benefits, backlogs of those with pending disability claims and hearings could reach record levels and wait times at field offices and busy signals at the Social Security Administrations' toll free number would increase dramatically.

Congressional leaders have proposed a $1.7 billion reduction in Social Security Administration funding for the remainder of FY 2011.