Overview

• Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek publicly blamed 'radical DEI and gender ideology' for long wait times and service disruptions at the agency.
• Approximately 3,000 SSA employees accepted buyouts earlier this year, further straining an already understaffed workforce and increasing backlogs.
• New online identity verification requirements have raised concerns that retirees could face barriers in accessing their benefits.
• Beneficiaries are inundating SSA offices due to unresolved issues over the phone and online, compounding delays and confusion.
• The Senate confirmed Frank Bisignano as the new SSA Commissioner, positioning him to address ongoing operational, technical, and political challenges.