The Social Security Agency (the distribution of benefits to thousands of retired workers, disabled people and their families) is in a state of crisis.
Since Billionaire Elon Musk’s Ministry of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Set its gaze Regarding the search for fraud in social security, the agency Always trying to reduce 12% its labor force, or 7,000 workers. Leland Dudek takes over as acting specialist for the Social Security Agency in February Launch the official and prompted others to resign in protest against his leadership. He canceled his research contract with the university, including A kind of study of population trendsand closed six regional offices.
In addition, the agency recently Announce Soon it will no longer allow claimants to verify their identity on the phone, but instead ask them to go online or on the field office in person, a move that May delay People benefit from delivery.
As a result, the field office was so inadequate that the manager doubled down, as receptionists, answered calls at the front desk because there were not enough people to handle the cell phone, According to a report by the Washington Post. The telephone line was interrupted with the beneficiary Waiting for up to four to five hours Connect with your customer service representative. Congressional Office and AARP Have noticed a surge in phone calls From voters who are concerned about their social security benefits. The Social Security Bureau website also collapsed several times.
It’s all because Trump officials insist that Social Security is trapped in fraud. Both Trump and Musk Claiming wrongly A large number of people who have died for decades are still receiving social security benefits. Despite these requirements, experts say the Trump administration is Exaggerated the problem greatly. A federal judge who blocks Musk’s team from obtaining sensitive personal data Tell me that door “The well-known needles have been searched in haystacks without any specific knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack.”
The current chaos is largely expected. Martin O’Malley Warn of Doge’s behavior Threat to collapse and interrupt earnings.
Trump claims he will No social security reduction. But his government’s attack on social security (all in pursuit of fraud, waste and abuse) Critics worry He is putting social security on the road to privatization.
Trump administration officials also acknowledged that Social Security payments could cause disruptions. For example, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick – a billionaire and former Wall Street executive – claims that if people don’t charge Social Security payments, they won’t complain, saying that only those who commit fraud will try to raise concerns. “Suppose Social Security has not sent a check this month. My mother-in-law, 94, will not call to complain,” he Said in a podcast interview. “She just won’t. She’ll feel like something messed up and she’ll get it next month. The fraudsters always make the biggest noise, scream, yell and complain.”
However, the reality is that millions of people rely on social security to make ends meet. This program improves More than 20 million people are out of poverty Every year – more than any other federal program. So if the Trump administration does not quickly put Social Security out of this crisis, many people will complain. Lutnik will soon find out that his predictions may be very, very wrong.
