News surrounding the Social Security Administration is practically daily. Changes, moves, and cuts by the Donald Trump administration are continuous. Since Frank Bisignano was appointed SSA commissioner in May, lawmakers have been hesitant to decide what Bisignano will do. For now, his goal is to steer the SSA toward a more digital path. Regarding the long-term solution, Bisignano has said, “We will achieve this by becoming a digital, technology-driven, and public-first organization.”
Many began to fear that cuts to the SSA could result in reduced payments
What this means is a reduction in staff and physical offices. Things have been very hectic at the agency responsible for issuing monthly benefit checks to approximately 72.5 million vulnerable people across the country. This is all part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Recall that while DOGE was created with the goal of drastically cutting federal spending, many began to fear that cuts to the SSA could result in reduced or delayed benefit payments. Criticism of DOGE was reinforced by the department’s attempt to access the personal information of Social Security beneficiaries.
Adults think the country spends too little on Social Security
Social Security is one of the nation’s largest social programs. A January survey conducted by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that two-thirds of U.S. adults think the country spends too little on Social Security, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Some of the public service offices that will be eliminated were already scheduled to close due to lack of use. An agency spokesperson said a few months ago that most of the leases not being renewed were used to rent spaces used for in-person hearings. These locations are no longer needed since most hearings are currently conducted virtually. In fiscal year 2024, according to the SSA, 20% of those offices did not conduct any in-person hearings.
“Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democratic senator from New York, said her state’s White Plains hearing office has 2,000 pending cases, adding that “recipients will have to travel between 23 and 130 miles” to reach another office if it closes,” according to the LA Times.
Bisignano: “I have no intention of laying anyone off”
Regarding layoffs, Bisignano was clear: “I have no intention of laying anyone off. If I realize we can do all our work with 20,000 people—which I don’t see right now—that’ll be 20,000. If I realize we need 80,000, that’ll be 80,000. I have to determine what the appropriate staffing level is.”
According to the latest reports, the commissioner may face more serious problems than further digitizing the SSA. If Congress doesn’t intervene soon on the Old-Age and Survivors Trust Fund (OASI) issue, the situation could reach critical limits. According to the latest report, the Old-Age and Survivors Trust Fund could be exhausted by 2034, meaning that only 81% of scheduled payments would be covered after that date. This is a long-term problem that deserves a solution as soon as possible.
