More than a dozen House Republicans are pressing the newly confirmed Social Security Administration (SSA) chief Frank Bisignano on the recent staff cutbacks at the agency.
The 15 House GOP lawmakers said in a letter to Bisignano, who was confirmed by the Senate in a 53-47 vote on Tuesday, that they are concerned about the “proposed changes to customer service” at SSA.
“Our constituents heavily rely on the services provided by our local SSA offices, the SSA website, and the SSA 1-800 number. Specifically, we are concerned about the SSA implementing staffing cuts and ending leases of customer service centers,” the Republican legislators wrote in a 3-page letter on Tuesday.
The Hill has reached out to the SSA for comment.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has pushed for cutting down SSA’s workforce, an idea that has received strong pushback from Democrats in Congress.
Bisignano, a Wall Street veteran whose nomination was opposed by virtually all Democrats in the upper chamber, previously told senators that he has no involvement with DOGE and that he does not see “this institution as anything other than run for the benefit of the American public.”
“It is essential to ensure the verification of Social Security recipients in order to reduce fraud and abuse within the system. However, this verification process must not be overly burdensome for the elderly or disabled with physical and technological challenges,” House GOP lawmakers said in the letter. “Also, individuals in rural areas face existing geographical hardships in accessing local Social Security offices.”
In late April, a group of Democrats called on the SSA to keep field offices open.
The SSA has said in late February that it plans to cut down the “size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure,” and has set “a staffing target of 50,000, down from the current level of approximately 57,000 employees.”
The agency said in March that it hasn’t “permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office.” The agency added that it has to shut down a local field office “from time to time” because of damage, facility issues or weather.
“We commend and support the continued efforts to make our bloated bureaucracy more efficient for the American people,’ the Republican lawmakers wrote in the letter. “However, we must use caution and consider the impact any changes would have so there are no disruptions in services for our seniors and disabled who depend on the Social Security Administration to receive retirement benefits and supplemental security income.”
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