DOGE Accused Of Collapsing Social Security?
Martin O’Malley, the former commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), recently warned that the actions taken by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could bring the Social Security system to its knees within the next 30 to 90 days. O’Malley, a Democrat who served as Maryland’s governor from 2007 to 2015, expressed grave concerns on CNBC about the consequences of Musk’s drastic cuts to the SSA.
O’Malley, who held the role of Social Security commissioner from December 2023 to November 2024, said that the reduced budget and workforce within the agency could severely disrupt the monthly benefit payments that over 72.5 million Americans rely on. These payments support millions of elderly, disabled, and vulnerable citizens, including more than 56 million seniors who depend on Social Security for their livelihoods. He warned that if the current path of workforce reduction continues, it could lead to serious disruptions in benefit processing and potentially even a collapse of the system.
He also cautioned that these budget cuts and workforce reductions could force out critical staff members, jeopardizing the system’s ability to function smoothly. “We are likely to see the system collapse and interruptions in benefits within the next two to three months if this trend continues,” O’Malley said. He encouraged Americans to start saving for the possibility of delayed or missed payments, which could have devastating effects on the elderly and disabled who rely on this income.
DOGE’s mission to trim down government expenditures has led to major organizational changes within the SSA, including the resignation of acting SSA Commissioner Michelle King. Last week, the SSA also announced significant workforce reductions as part of an ongoing “agency-wide organizational restructuring,” which could see thousands of employees laid off or reassigned.
As these reductions progress, the SSA has indicated that positions deemed non-essential will be eliminated, leaving crucial services at risk. The agency’s plans also include offering buyouts and early retirement packages to employees in a bid to reduce headcount. This approach has many worried that the cuts will push the system past the breaking point, putting Social Security benefits in peril.
