Backtracked: Government agency reverses course on service cutbacks following media report
- Replies 0
In a world where the only constant is change, it's no surprise that even the institutions we've come to rely on can be subject to sudden shifts.
But when those changes threaten the lifeline of millions, it's time to take a closer look.
This is precisely what happened when the Social Security Administration (SSA) found itself at the center of a whirlwind of controversy, following a media report that brought to light plans for significant cuts to its phone services.
According to The Washington Post, the Social Security Administration (SSA) was considering major cutbacks to its phone services under pressure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aimed to curb alleged fraud, waste, and abuse.
The report, based on records and sources familiar with internal discussions, revealed that the agency had been weighing significant service reductions.
However, just hours after the Post's report, the SSA reversed course, opting instead for a more limited policy change that would prohibit direct-deposit modifications over the phone.
Under the leadership of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, DOGE has aggressively pursued a sweeping reduction of the federal government and its bureaucracy.
The department has significantly downsized the workforce across nearly all government agencies as part of its broader initiative to eliminate what it deems excessive government spending, inefficiency, and fraud.
According to a source who spoke with The Washington Post, SSA leadership was considering a plan to discontinue telephone support for claims processing and direct-deposit account changes, requiring clients—including seniors and individuals with disabilities—to use online services or visit field offices instead.
The decision had the potential to disrupt access to benefits for millions of Americans, as many depend on the SSA’s phone service to “submit claims and make transactions.”
DOGE pushed back against The Washington Post's initial report through its X account, calling it “inaccurate and misleading.”
“Social Security is protecting our seniors by ensuring bank accounts aren't changed with little to no authentication. Approx. 40% of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with fraudsters calling SSA on the phone and changing the direct deposit bank account from the correct one to a fraudulent one," the task force stated.
It further clarified that starting March 29, individuals who wish to update their direct deposit information can:
-Change it online using 2FA (Call Center Technicians available to assist beneficiaries with website)
-Change it in person at a SSA Service Center.
This is identical to the fraud protections at almost all major banks, where deposit changes are made either online or in person. All other SSA phone services remain unchanged.
The reported pressure from DOGE on the SSA to reduce phone support coincides with the task force’s push for a 12% staff reduction at the agency—a move critics argue could exacerbate existing operational challenges.
Both current and former officials stress that SSA's toll-free number is a vital resource for older beneficiaries, particularly those with limited internet access or difficulty navigating online systems.
According to The Washington Post, 73 million retired and disabled Americans depend on SSA’s phone services to manage their benefits.
Wednesday’s report came as congressional Republicans pushed for deep spending cuts to offset $4.5 trillion in proposed tax reductions.
Also read: "Will this affect my future?" A major restructuring of federal spending on Social Security
Former President Donald Trump endorsed the House GOP’s plan while vowing not to cut Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security to advance his political agenda.
However, the Congressional Budget Office warned last week that Republicans would be unable to meet their fiscal goals without also reducing Medicaid and Medicare benefits, which millions of Americans depend on.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk echoed debunked claims about Social Security and suggested that between $500 billion and $700 billion in government spending should be eliminated.
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements," Musk told Fox Business Network. "That's the big one to eliminate."
He also repeated the false assertion that "20 million people who are definitely dead [are] marked as alive in the Social Security database."
There is no evidence to support claims that Social Security payments are being sent to a significant number of deceased individuals.
The acting SSA commissioner also pushed back against Musk’s statements, clarifying, "The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits."
At a February press briefing in Florida, Trump claimed, "We have millions and millions of people over 100 years old" receiving Social Security benefits, adding, "They're obviously fraudulent or incompetent. If you take all of those millions of people off Social Security, all of a sudden we have a very powerful Social Security with people that are 80 and 70 and 90, but not 200 years old."
Recommended for you: Is your state on the map? What you need to know about recent social security office shutdowns.
Paul Barrett, deputy director of the Stern Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University, criticized Musk’s approach, telling The Washington Post, "His playbook has now become quite clear. It is an extraordinary game he plays of wrecking institutions in order to dominate them."
The SSA’s new direct-deposit policy is set to take effect at the end of the month.
An agency spokesperson reaffirmed the SSA’s commitment to safeguarding its programs, telling The Post, "We are dedicated to protecting both the public and trust funds from fraud, waste, and abuse. We continuously investigate and analyze potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs."
How do you feel about the proposed changes to Social Security phone services? Have you or a loved one been affected by similar reforms? Share your stories and insights in the comments below!
But when those changes threaten the lifeline of millions, it's time to take a closer look.
This is precisely what happened when the Social Security Administration (SSA) found itself at the center of a whirlwind of controversy, following a media report that brought to light plans for significant cuts to its phone services.
According to The Washington Post, the Social Security Administration (SSA) was considering major cutbacks to its phone services under pressure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aimed to curb alleged fraud, waste, and abuse.
The report, based on records and sources familiar with internal discussions, revealed that the agency had been weighing significant service reductions.
However, just hours after the Post's report, the SSA reversed course, opting instead for a more limited policy change that would prohibit direct-deposit modifications over the phone.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considered making significant reductions to its phone services but reversed its plans after a report by The Washington Post. Image source: Alex Kotliarskyi / Unsplash.
Under the leadership of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, DOGE has aggressively pursued a sweeping reduction of the federal government and its bureaucracy.
The department has significantly downsized the workforce across nearly all government agencies as part of its broader initiative to eliminate what it deems excessive government spending, inefficiency, and fraud.
According to a source who spoke with The Washington Post, SSA leadership was considering a plan to discontinue telephone support for claims processing and direct-deposit account changes, requiring clients—including seniors and individuals with disabilities—to use online services or visit field offices instead.
The decision had the potential to disrupt access to benefits for millions of Americans, as many depend on the SSA’s phone service to “submit claims and make transactions.”
DOGE pushed back against The Washington Post's initial report through its X account, calling it “inaccurate and misleading.”
“Social Security is protecting our seniors by ensuring bank accounts aren't changed with little to no authentication. Approx. 40% of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with fraudsters calling SSA on the phone and changing the direct deposit bank account from the correct one to a fraudulent one," the task force stated.
It further clarified that starting March 29, individuals who wish to update their direct deposit information can:
-Change it online using 2FA (Call Center Technicians available to assist beneficiaries with website)
-Change it in person at a SSA Service Center.
This is identical to the fraud protections at almost all major banks, where deposit changes are made either online or in person. All other SSA phone services remain unchanged.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, aims to reduce federal government size and has proposed a 12 percent staff cut for the SSA. Image source: CDC / Unsplash.
The reported pressure from DOGE on the SSA to reduce phone support coincides with the task force’s push for a 12% staff reduction at the agency—a move critics argue could exacerbate existing operational challenges.
Both current and former officials stress that SSA's toll-free number is a vital resource for older beneficiaries, particularly those with limited internet access or difficulty navigating online systems.
According to The Washington Post, 73 million retired and disabled Americans depend on SSA’s phone services to manage their benefits.
Wednesday’s report came as congressional Republicans pushed for deep spending cuts to offset $4.5 trillion in proposed tax reductions.
Also read: "Will this affect my future?" A major restructuring of federal spending on Social Security
Former President Donald Trump endorsed the House GOP’s plan while vowing not to cut Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security to advance his political agenda.
However, the Congressional Budget Office warned last week that Republicans would be unable to meet their fiscal goals without also reducing Medicaid and Medicare benefits, which millions of Americans depend on.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk echoed debunked claims about Social Security and suggested that between $500 billion and $700 billion in government spending should be eliminated.
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements," Musk told Fox Business Network. "That's the big one to eliminate."
The SSA's new policy will bar changes to direct deposit via phone to prevent fraud, directing clients to either change their direct deposit information online with two-factor authentication or in person at a service center. Image source: Julian Hochgesang / Unsplash.
He also repeated the false assertion that "20 million people who are definitely dead [are] marked as alive in the Social Security database."
There is no evidence to support claims that Social Security payments are being sent to a significant number of deceased individuals.
The acting SSA commissioner also pushed back against Musk’s statements, clarifying, "The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits."
At a February press briefing in Florida, Trump claimed, "We have millions and millions of people over 100 years old" receiving Social Security benefits, adding, "They're obviously fraudulent or incompetent. If you take all of those millions of people off Social Security, all of a sudden we have a very powerful Social Security with people that are 80 and 70 and 90, but not 200 years old."
Recommended for you: Is your state on the map? What you need to know about recent social security office shutdowns.
Paul Barrett, deputy director of the Stern Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University, criticized Musk’s approach, telling The Washington Post, "His playbook has now become quite clear. It is an extraordinary game he plays of wrecking institutions in order to dominate them."
The SSA’s new direct-deposit policy is set to take effect at the end of the month.
An agency spokesperson reaffirmed the SSA’s commitment to safeguarding its programs, telling The Post, "We are dedicated to protecting both the public and trust funds from fraud, waste, and abuse. We continuously investigate and analyze potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs."
How do you feel about the proposed changes to Social Security phone services? Have you or a loved one been affected by similar reforms? Share your stories and insights in the comments below!
