Elon Musk’s involvement in government affairs through the Department of Government Efficiency has sparked significant concerns and debates with the current one being the Social Security Administration (SSA). With DOGE being tasked with reducing federal spending by $2 trillion, SSA is now at the center of this plan after Musk said that the department is aiming to reduce the number of workers by up to 50% and close some offices. This move is expected to alter how SSA operates and delivers services to US citizens.
Social Security Administration Reaction
After these executive orders were issued by the White House, SSA plans to implement them by reducing costs with a renewed focus on mission-critical work for the American people. This plan means that employees who do not directly provide mission-critical service will be dismissed. Currently, the organization has approximately 57,000 employees and is set to reduce to 50,000. SSA also said that the 50% reduction was false.
Is the Proposed Reduction of the SSA Workforce a Double-Edged Sword?
The reduction of the SSA workforce by allegedly 50% translates to approximately 30,000 people losing their jobs, which could affect how the agency delivers services to the public. Senator Bernie Sanders strongly condemned Elon Musk’s plan calling it a direct attack on the working class. He also warned that reducing the workforce drastically would create unnecessary delays that would harm millions of retirees and disabled individuals who rely on Social Security every month.
The plan to reduce the SSA workforce is a double-edged sword because, while it aims at cutting costs and minimizing waste of public funds, it hurts US citizens, especially retirees and disabled people who have to wait for longer to process their payments. These two groups of people rely entirely on social security funds and delaying them could be life threatening. According to Bernie Sanders, reducing the SSA workforce by 50% would cause 37,000 more Americans to die each year while waiting for their disability, while the waiting time could jump to 412 days.
What Elon Musk Says About this Plan
Recently, Elon Musk publicly referred to Social Security as a “Ponzi Scheme” suggesting that the current system is unsustainable. This explains his move to plan such drastic changes in the agency to ensure that the system is viable. Critics argue that this move aims at cutting costs while undermining the well-being of beneficiaries which entirely undermines the agency’s foundational principles.
What Critics Say About This Move
Many critics, including the former commissioner of SSA Martin O’Malley, warned that drastic changes could lead to the total collapse of SSA. Other critics argued that the agency uses outdated technology infrastructure that cannot withstand such significant reductions. O’Malley also advised the beneficiaries of social security to start saving now in anticipation of potential disruptions soon.
Why Elon Musk’s Plan is Dangerous
Elon Musk’s plan would disrupt how the Social Security Administration functions and it could be dangerous because;
- Drastic workforce reductions and office closures could hinder SSA’s ability to serve beneficiaries effectively.
- Closing offices could limit access to services for vulnerable populations especially those living in remote areas, thus exacerbating inequalities.
- The move could lead to delays in benefit payments causing millions of retirees and disabled individuals to strain financially.