Social Security Overhaul Risks Payment Delays as Staff and Expertise Dwindle

The Trump administration's restructuring of the Social Security Administration, led by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, faces mounting criticism over rushed IT changes and staff reductions.

• The Social Security Administration is cutting at least 7,000 staff and closing six regional offices, straining its ability to deliver benefits to over 73 million Americans.
• A rushed IT modernization effort, led by DOGE, aims to migrate SSA systems off COBOL programming within months, raising concerns of system failures and missed payments.
• Experts warn that voluntary departures and retirements of critical technical staff are jeopardizing the agency’s ability to address glitches and maintain operations.
• Customer service is deteriorating sharply, with longer wait times, overwhelmed phone lines, and increased delays in processing benefits claims, particularly for people with disabilities.
• Critics argue the changes could undermine Social Security’s mission, while the administration defends them as necessary for efficiency and fraud prevention.

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