A group of House Republicans is cautioning the new Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, against implementing further staffing cuts or closing local offices due to the agency experiencing longer customer service wait times. The 15 House Republicans expressed concerns in a letter shortly after Bisignano’s Senate confirmation on May 6, urging him to refrain from making cuts that could worsen the already subpar customer service in recent years. The Social Security Administration has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Social Security has been a target of the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, resulting in attempts to downsize the federal government. This has caused apprehension among seniors. The agency’s acting director, Leland Dudek, has announced plans to reduce staff by 7,000 out of 57,000 employees, despite already being at a record low while the number of eligible recipients is at an all-time high. About 3,000 staff members had accepted buyouts as of March.
Additionally, there are proposals to provide access to Social Security Administration data to the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. The Trump administration sought the Supreme Court’s approval on May 2 for DOGE to use the data after a federal judge in Maryland had blocked Musk’s team from accessing it, citing privacy law violations.
Concerns have also arisen due to new identification requirements in the benefits application process, potential limitations on phone support, and rumors of closing local offices leading to panic in March, resulting in website crashes and crowded lobbies at some Social Security offices.
The letter penned by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York emphasized the importance of government efficiency efforts while ensuring that services for seniors and disabled individuals who rely on Social Security benefits are not disrupted. Democrats have criticized the appointment of Bisignano, who is seen as a cost-cutter, to lead an agency crucial for Americans’ financial security. They are concerned that Trump’s administration may target Social Security or reduce staffing to a level where it can no longer effectively serve the public.
Democrats have been actively addressing public concerns by holding press conferences at Social Security offices nationwide and launching a “war room” to maintain focus on this critical issue.
Administration’s plan for reducing Social Security benefits
