Overview

• The SSA announced new restrictions preventing employees from accessing general news, online shopping, and sports websites on work devices, effective March 6, 2025.
• Employees can request exceptions if they demonstrate a legitimate business need for accessing restricted sites, but the criteria remain unclear.
• The policy coincides with ongoing restructuring at the SSA, directed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which includes workforce reductions and office closures.
• Critics argue the restrictions may hinder employees' ability to perform certain tasks, such as verifying beneficiary information through online obituaries.
• The move is part of broader federal efforts under the Trump administration to cut spending, reduce government workforce size, and limit media access across agencies.