Social Security Close to 'Total System Collapse': Ex-Head
The former Social Security commissioner Martin O’Malley has said the government department is on the brink of “total system collapse” under the Trump administration.
Why It Matters
The Social Security Administration (SSA) currently pays out retirement, survivor and disability benefits to more than 70 million Americans. But recent changes made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its current commissioner have come under considerable scrutiny.
What To Know
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, O’Malley said: “The Musk/Trump co-presidency has already taken 90% of the actions necessary to drive Social Security into a total system collapse.”
It follows the publication of a Washington Post article regarding the “breaking down” of the federal agency, which includes reports that customer service phone lines are failing, in-person appointments are scarce, and online claims for benefits are “piling up.”
It’s no secret that the SSA has come under DOGE’s hammer in recent weeks, much to the alarm of lawmakers, advocate groups and former officials. In recent months, the agency has begun laying off 7,000 employees, closing field offices and mandating in-person identity checks as a result of ongoing cost-saving and fraud mitigation.
Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley testifies before the Senate Committee on the Budget at the U.S. Capitol on September 11, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Anna Rose Layden/GETTY
All of this has happened under the helm of Leland Dudek, a former data-analyst at the agency who was promoted to acting commissioner while the confirmation of Trump nominee Frank Bisignano, a financial services executive, progresses in Congress.
Bisignano had his first Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, March 25, during which he vowed to crack down on fraud, to protect Americans’ personal data and dismissed suggestions that he supports privatizing the SSA.
In his opening statement to the Senate Finance Committee, Bisignano said he planned to be an “accountable leader” at SSA, committed to making Social Security a “premier service” for beneficiaries. His goals include reducing phone wait times, shortening processing times for disability claims, and lowering error rates.
In his post, O’Malley said that Bisignano would be aware of the reported issues at the SSA.
“One must assume their nominee approved all of it; or he wouldn’t be going for confirmation,” O’Malley wrote.
Newsweek has contacted Bisignano via email for comment.
What People Are Saying
Acting commissioner Leland Dudek said in an interview on Monday: “I do not want to destroy the agency. The president wants it to succeed by cutting out the red tape to improve service while improving security.”
Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works, in a statement sent to Newsweek: “Bisignano describes himself as ‘a DOGE person’. That’s something he has in common with the current acting commissioner, Lee Dudek, who has slashed staff and services at the direction of Elon Musk‘s DOGE. Though Bisignano wouldn’t admit it, he has been intimately involved in creating the current chaos surrounding the Social Security Administration. Fortunately, a high-level civil servant has blown the whistle and set the record straight.”
What’s Next
It is still unclear when the Senate Finance Committee will vote on Bisignano’s nomination.
Are you a Social Security employee or recipient who would like to speak to Newsweek about your experiences with the SSA as DOGE works continue? Email a.higham@newsweek.com