The Social Security Administration (SSA) is undergoing major changes. Former acting commissioner Leland Dudek said President Donald Trump’s administration is “not finished” with efforts to reshape the agency. In a New York Post opinion piece, Dudek said the reforms focus on improving service to the public, not serving any political agenda.
“We have reshaped SSA not to serve a party or a press cycle, but to serve the people,” Dudek wrote. “We are not finished. But if these first 100 days are any indication, the future of Social Security is not just protected but is being renewed.” Dudek was replaced this week by a new commissioner.
The SSA pays benefits to about 70 million Americans each month. It has seen several controversial changes recently, including job cuts and workforce reorganizations. Dudek addressed these directly.
He mentioned moving thousands of employees into direct public service roles. He also noted ending telework arrangements that hurt accountability and responsiveness. Earlier this year, the SSA said it would reduce its workforce by 7,000 employees.
By April, over 3,000 staff members had left the agency. An additional 2,000 were reassigned to offices needing more staff. Dudek also noted the quick payment of benefits after the Social Security Fairness Act.
Ongoing SSA reform efforts continue
This law eliminated provisions limiting benefits for certain public service workers. It resulted in $14.8 billion in retroactive benefits being paid to 2.2 million Americans.
However, the changes have faced criticism. Former SSA commissioner Martin O’Malley warned further staff reductions could disrupt timely benefit payments. This could cause issues for beneficiaries.
There have also been reports of SSA website outages and long delays for phone and in-person services. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the reforms. Some Democrats, including former President Biden, have criticized the changes as too harsh.
Certain Republicans have urged a more balanced approach to reforming the SSA without hurting service quality. The SSA also currently faces legal challenges. In April, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction.
It prevents the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its agents from accessing systems with personally identifiable information. New SSA Commissioner Bisignano stated his commitment to continuing reforms while protecting Social Security. President Trump has been clear about Social Security,” Bisignano said.
We will make the Social Security Administration a premier organization.