The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established in 2025 under the administration of President Donald Trump and led by Elon Musk, has implemented spending reduction measures at several federal agencies. Among the most affected is the Social Security Administration (SSA), a key entity in the distribution of benefits to older adults, people with disabilities and low-income families.
Although benefit amounts have not changed, operational changes—such as staff cuts and office closures—could lead to delays in access to these resources, directly affecting hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across the United States, not only those receiving Social Security benefits, but also those claiming SNAP benefits.
Specific cuts to the SSA, ordered by DOGE
According to recent data, DOGE plans to eliminate 7,000 jobs at SSA, equivalent to 12% of its workforce. Additionally, 15 local offices have been closed in rural and urban areas, with plans to close another 10 by the end of 2025. These cuts include the elimination of telephone services to update direct deposit data, a measure that would complicate the process for beneficiaries without internet access.
More than 80% of seniors in the U.S. rely on SSA benefits, and for 60%, they account for more than half of their income, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Delays in processing applications—especially for disability benefits, which already take up to two years—could exacerbate food and financial insecurity in low-income households.
A report dated March 13 indicates that rural families and families with disabled members would be the most affected, because, without benefits distributed correctly and on time, without cuts, their purchasing power would be severely affected immediately and in the long term.
Cuts to Social Security: how popular are they?
While former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley warns of a possible “system collapse” within 90 days due to a lack of trained personnel, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defends the cuts as a step to “eradicate waste and modernize services” (Axios, March 13). Organizations such as Social Security Works criticize that these measures “weaken the social safety net.”
The SSA has reduced its telephone hours to four hours a day in 20 states, according to data published by American media on March 8. This affects beneficiaries who require assistance to process claims or update information.
In rural areas, where 35% of offices have closed since 2023, users must travel up to 150 km to access in-person services, according to a study by the Urban Institute, meaning these cuts have already come from the Joe Biden government, and are deepened during Trump’s.
SNAP benefits would also be affected
The cuts also impact related initiatives, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and housing subsidies. As Business Insider reported on March 1, remaining staff at SSA have absorbed additional duties, increasing wait times to resolve interagency cases. This could delay the delivery of combined benefits, crucial for families with incomes less than $30,000 annually.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced a bill on February 11 to stop cuts to the SSA, arguing that they “put millions of Americans at risk.” Simultaneously, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is preparing a lawsuit against DOGE for alleged violation of the Equal Access to Public Services Act, which requires maintaining operational channels of care for vulnerable populations.
DOGE has promoted the migration of procedures to digital platforms as a compensatory measure. However, a Pew Research Center report (from 2024) reveals that 27% of older adults do not use the internet, and 40% of rural families have limited connections. For them, digitalization does not replace personalized attention.
Experts at the Brookings Institution project that delays in benefits could reduce GDP by up to 0.4% in 2026, by reducing consumption in low-income households. Additionally, they would increase reliance on state emergency programs, the estimated annual cost of which would exceed $2.5 billion, according to a March 2025 McKinsey & Company analysis.