The Social Security Administration website has crashed four times in the past 10 days, leaving millions of retirees without access to the service. Online access has been blocked due to the overwhelming influx of users, and calls to the office have been put on hold for hours.
This is the result of massive layoffs that have left existing civil service staff no longer able to handle the workload. This is the result of cost-cutting efforts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Social Security Administration, which has been disbursing $1.5 trillion annually to 73 million retirees, people with disabilities, and others, is now facing a crisis where it may no longer be able to continue its role. Despite the severe staffing shortage, President Trump’s soon-to-be-appointed SSA administrator, Frank Bisignano, is expected to push for further massive layoffs through a financial audit.
“This is a breakdown from within and it’s only going to accelerate,” said Senator Angus King. “I have retirees in their 70s and 80s coming to me and they’re scared, and they don’t know what to do.” “This government is acting unconscionable.”
Leland Dudek, who provided DOGE with the data and was later promoted to acting director, has been at the forefront of purges of existing professionals, some of whom have resigned in disgust at the policy changes.
As the service is cut off, angry constituents are asking their local representatives but are not getting much of an answer. Since Social Security benefits are the main source of income for 40% of retirees, it is inevitable that changes will be closely watched.
SSA has struggled to provide services to a growing number of retirees with outdated technology systems and a budget of $15 billion that has barely changed in the past decade, but President Trump has caused extreme chaos by cutting and reducing the budget since taking office. This has led to comments from within the administration that “it’s like lighting a fire to put it out,” and some have worried that “it seems like an effort to privatize government agencies.”