Thousands are already feeling the effect of DOGE’s attacks to the Social Security Administration
Photo: Getty Images
Recent reports of delays in customer service and phones that “keep ringing” at the Social Security Administration (SSA) should come as no surprise following the announced Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to cut about 7,000 jobs and close 6 out of 10 total regional offices. These plans are happening alongside the agency’s current spending freeze initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year.
“What’s going on is the destruction of the agency from the inside out, and it’s accelerating.”
Roughly 1 in 5 Americans receive benefits through Social Security, with more than 7 million Americans 65 and older receiving at least 90 percent of their income from the program. These delays and possible interruption in payments could put millions at risk. For many of these seniors, even a few days’ delay in receiving Social Security benefits poses an immediate threat to their ability to pay rent and buy food. In a January 2025 survey, 42 percent of Americans 65 and older reported “I would not be able to afford the basics, such as food, clothing, or housing” without Social Security retirement benefits.”
Disabled people and their families, likewise, would face dire straits. More than 11 million disabled Americans under the age of 65 rely on benefits administered by the SSA.
By slashing staff and closing offices, the Trump administration is compromising the capacity needed to get Americans the retirement and disability benefits they need, when they need them.
Every day, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE are destroying vital public programs such as Social Security that hardworking Americans rely on. In his quest to hoard power, Trump is dismantling the federal government piece by piece until no one is left to stand in his way.
That’s why checks and balances on his blatant power grab have never been more important. Tell your representative: We need Congress to stand up to Trump and his agenda to gut America’s middle class.
This week, the Center for American Progress hosted the first in a series of virtual events highlighting the impact that DOGE’s cuts are having on the lives of everyday Americans. David Dickson, meteorologist and TV engagement coordinator at Covering Climate Now, shared how cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service will harm Americans' safety by undermining efforts to provide timely, accurate weather forecasts.
Cutting funding from the National Weather Service has deadly consequences
From broadcasters to weather apps, meteorologists nationwide depend on the National Weather Service data collection to provide accurate forecasts that all Americans rely upon.
Now, current and future mass layoffs at NOAA initiated by Elon Musk's DOGE threaten the fundamental work of the National Weather Service.
Just in the past few weeks, tornadoes have swept across communities in the Midwestern and Southern United States. The consequences of these funding cuts will be deadly for communities across the country as hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters worsen with climate change. Tom Di Liberto, a meteorologist who recently lost their job to DOGE cuts, explains why these layoffs are so dangerous:
“NOAA and the National Weather Service are the only people who issue tornado watches and tornado warnings, so if you reduce the capacity of the Weather Service to be able to do that, you’re going to cause there to be issues when it comes to safety.”
Event Spotlight: Effective Public Safety Messaging Strategies for Local Leaders
Please join the Center for American Progress and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Future of Public Safety Initiative on Tuesday, April 1, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST for a virtual convening. This event will include public safety and communications leaders from cities across the United States, as well as other partners and supporters.
Throughout the event, participants will learn about successful public safety messaging strategies, hear from experts about overcoming challenges in communicating crime data to the public, and discuss successes and challenges from their own experiences. The event will also feature remarks from Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson as well as a panel of experts who will discuss strategies for using available data to tell stories that are relatable to the public.
