What Lawmakers and Disability Advocates Say about DOGE’s Focus on Potential Cuts to Social Security Administration Programs

Lawmakers and disability and Social Security advocates alike have a lot to say about the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (otherwise referred to as “DOGE”), which is headed by Elon Musk, a private individual and business owner. In case you haven’t heard, DOGE and Musk seek to eliminate government waste and spending, and are now said to be eyeing Social Security Administration programs, such as Social Security Disability, a program that millions of disabled and retired Americans rely on for financial stability and support. DOGE says that it aims to “radically downsize” the Social Security Administration, and “cut its funding.” To that end, after Musk and his new hires at DOGE made it known that they plan to attempt to access the Social Security Administration’s database and records, including the sensitive and confidential records of tens of millions of Americans, lawmakers and disability advocates aren’t staying quiet any longer.

Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said of DOGE’s plans to access the Social Security Administration’s database and to cut funds from millions of disabled and retired individuals, “As the nation’s largest benefit-paying agency to more than 70 million seniors, people with disabilities, and children, the Social Security Administration is the hub for storing Americans’ most sensitive medical and financial information…DOGE’s access to SSA’s data system is an invasion of both Americans’ financial security and privacy — including people’s bank and credit information, Social Security numbers, birth and marriage certificates, and citizenship status.”

Across the country, in Baltimore, Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from the state, called for “protecting the integrity of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid” following reports that DOGE had already gained entry into the sensitive records held by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and intends to make the Social Security Administration his new target.

Of the practical impacts on what all of the cuts may mean to average, everyday Americans, Dan Adcock, the director on government relations and policy at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said, “SSA is already underfunded and understaffed…Musk and DOGE want to unilaterally cut funding for the agency and massively lay off workers that administer Americans’ earned benefits.” He also added that further cuts to the Social Security Administration’s budget would mean “customer service that nearly 70 million people rely on is going to suffer greatly….” He also added that “along with other advocates and Democratic lawmakers, are fighting back against Musk and DOGE’s largely illegal and unconstitutional campaign to interfere with the administration of Americans’ Social Security benefits.”

Finding Legal Help for Your Social Security Disability Case

For now, disabled Americans can still apply for and receive Social Security Disability benefits, but it remains to be seen what will happen to the Social Security Disability program under DOGE.

If you are seeking Social Security Disability benefits and you need legal help, contact the experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law. Contact Nationwide Disability Law and speak to a lawyer about your case now.

Source:

thinkadvisor.com/2025/02/10/doges-next-target-social-security-/