A former White House official has raised concerns that Elon Musk’s DOGE is causing serious disruptions to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) technology and operations, making it difficult for millions of Americans to access their benefits.
According to Julie Siegel, who served as deputy federal chief operating officer at the Office of Management and Budget under the Biden administration, the changes made by DOGE could be part of a larger effort to undermine the Social Security system.
Widespread Access Issues
Since DOGE staffers entered the SSA, many beneficiaries have reported long wait times on phone lines and technical issues on the website. The SSA website has even crashed multiple times in the last ten days, preventing millions of users from accessing their accounts or making necessary updates.
The situation has become more complicated due to significant staff reductions at the SSA, with more planned closures of local offices. Additionally, the phone system is struggling to manage the surge in calls, further exacerbating the problem.
This has left many Americans, particularly vulnerable groups like retirees and people with disabilities, without the assistance they need to resolve their payment issues. As Siegel explains, “Millions of Americans rely on Social Security for their most basic income, and at a most basic level, they can’t get through and they can’t get their benefits.”
Staffing Issues and System Failures
Siegel blames the reduction in staff for much of the chaos at the SSA. She argues that technology alone cannot solve the problem—there needs to be enough human support to manage the systems effectively. “You actually need actual human beings to operate the technology, and they keep firing people,” Siegel says, adding that the SSA’s staffing is “down” and “the technology is breaking.”
Siegel believes that these problems were foreseeable, especially for those with some understanding of technology. She highlights that the transition to a new system is often risky, and without fully building a new system before dismantling the old one, problems like system failures should not come as a surprise.
A Risky Overhaul
According to Wired, DOGE is planning an aggressive modernization of the SSA’s systems, including migrating from COBOL—an outdated programming language—to more modern technologies like Java. However, experts warn that this transition could lead to even more issues, including errors in payment processing. There is a real possibility that millions of Americans could stop receiving their Social Security benefits altogether if the system migration is not carefully handled.
Alex Jacquez, former National Economic Council (NEC) official and current chief of policy and advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, drew comparisons between the current situation at the SSA and Musk’s takeover of Twitter in 2022.
“This is exactly what happened when Musk took over Twitter and fired all the engineers; the website was glitching,” Jacquez said. “When you’re running a massive government bureaucracy, any kind of tinkering or changes in the code on the website could have serious ramifications for people who rely on these checks.”
DOGE’s Stance on Social Security
Musk and the DOGE team have openly criticized the SSA, accusing it of widespread fraud, including claims that tens of millions of dead people are mistakenly receiving benefits. Experts and former commissioners have widely disputed these claims. In an effort to reduce what it sees as fraud, DOGE has proposed several controversial changes, such as enforcing stronger identity verification procedures, cutting staff, and closing field offices.
While these measures are meant to increase efficiency, they have sparked backlash. Billionaire Mark Cuban criticized the move, calling it a “backdoor way to cut payments.” Following significant pressure from Democrats and experts, the SSA recently announced a delay in rolling out the controversial anti-fraud measures. These changes will now affect fewer applicants than originally planned.
A Push Toward Privatization?
Some critics, including Jacquez, believe that the staff cuts and technological chaos at the SSA are part of a broader agenda to privatize Social Security. He argues that the ultimate goal is to reduce the public sector’s involvement in Social Security and outsource its management to private companies.
“My view is that the ultimate goal here is what has been the holy grail for Republicans for decades now, which is to privatize the Social Security Administration,” Jacquez said. “There’s already a long list of things that Elon and the administration have basically floated as being services that they want the private sector to take over.”
In a recent interview, Musk defended DOGE’s work within the SSA, claiming that reducing federal spending without cutting essential services is “quite achievable.” He also suggested that Social Security recipients would ultimately receive more money because of the changes being implemented.
However, Siegel remains unconvinced, stating that any delay in receiving benefits is, in effect, a reduction in benefits. “If you can’t receive your benefits, your benefits are being denied,” she said. “Every hour you waste on hold on the phone or refreshing a broken website or in line at an overwhelmed walk-in site, your benefits are being reduced because of DOGE.”
A Divided Response
The ongoing turmoil at the SSA has left many Americans frustrated and struggling to access the benefits they rely on. While DOGE pushes for modernization, the challenges of implementing these changes have highlighted the risks of making drastic alterations to a system that serves millions. As the future of Social Security hangs in the balance, many are left wondering whether these changes will ultimately benefit or harm the American public.
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Jon King is an experienced journalist with 3 years of experience in the field. With a strong background in investigative reporting, Jon is known for his in-depth coverage of crime news, finance news, local news, and USA news. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Jon brings his sharp investigative skills, where he provides timely updates and analysis on a wide range of topics. His commitment to delivering accurate and impactful news has earned him a reputation for providing insightful and comprehensive stories that resonate with his audience.
