Overview

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) is investigating repeated website outages that have disrupted access for millions, including vulnerable populations such as seniors and disabled individuals.
• DOGE-led reforms under the Trump administration have introduced workforce reductions, office closures, and accelerated IT modernization, raising concerns about service disruptions.
• Critics argue the changes create barriers to accessing benefits, with long lines, reduced phone access, and in-person identity verification requirements disproportionately affecting the elderly and disabled.
• A federal judge recently blocked DOGE's access to sensitive SSA data, citing privacy concerns, as backlash against the reforms continues to grow.
• Despite partial policy reversals, such as exemptions for certain groups from in-person verification, critics warn that rushed modernization and downsizing could lead to large-scale service failures.