Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping away from the inner circles of Washington and President Donald Trump’s administration, leaving lingering questions about the future of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its ongoing influence on the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The transition, however, does not seem to signal an end to DOGE’s role within the agency. SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano has emphasized that DOGE will continue to guide the direction of the agency’s operations.
According to Newsweek, despite Musk’s exit, the SSA is still actively pursuing many of the initiatives originally proposed under DOGE’s guidance, particularly focusing on efficiency and technological upgrades.
Doge’s Impact on SSA: Changes and Digital Shift
Nearly 70 million Americans rely on Social Security each month, and the DOGE initiative has already made significant operational changes at the SSA.
These include office closures, staff reductions, and new data protocols, all of which could potentially affect the accessibility, timeliness, and privacy of benefits for retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors.
Under Bisignano’s leadership, the SSA is undergoing a digital transformation, with plans to incorporate more artificial intelligence and enhance customer service. Bisignano stated,
I look at them as a resource to help me – referring to DOGE, and added he is fundamentally a DOGE person.
He aims to reduce wait times and improve the efficiency of disability claim processing. Despite initial concerns, the SSA’s shift toward online services, such as replacing Social Security cards, is expected to streamline the process for beneficiaries.
Staff Reductions and Financial Concerns
The SSA has already reduced its workforce from 57,000 to 52,000 employees this year, marking a 7,000-job cut. Bisignano emphasized,
I think we should get away from focusing on head count to focus on what our objective is, which is to do a great job for the public.
This staff reduction comes amid growing concerns about the SSA’s financial future. Analysts predict that without further changes, the agency will not have enough funds for full payments by 2035, a situation that Bisignano insists will not lead to cuts in benefits.
The idea that I’d be doing anything other than trying to bolster it up is just crazy – he stated.
Despite these efforts, the shift towards digital services and reductions in physical support have resulted in an expected increase of nearly 2 million additional annual trips to SSA field offices as beneficiaries will need to seek in-person help due to the service cuts.
Public Concerns and Skepticism
The transition to a more digital and AI-driven SSA has raised concerns, particularly among older Americans who rely on traditional in-person services. Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor, pointed out,
Past suggestions of changes to how recipients interact with Social Security have been met with concern and even outright disdain. For older Americans who have paid into the system for years, they don’t want to see access to in-person and over-the-phone assistance drift away from what is such a pivotal source of income for millions each month.
Challenges of Implementing DOGE’s Vision
The DOGE initiative has faced criticism, particularly regarding its data access protocols. Earlier this year, tensions arose when DOGE bypassed standard procedures to access personal data about beneficiaries.
A Supreme Court decision in favor of DOGE granted the task force broader access to non-anonymized SSA records, raising privacy concerns among experts.
The decision was made with a 6-3 vote, which allowed DOGE to access these records to support its efficiency initiatives, but it also intensified debates about privacy rights versus the need for streamlined government services.
While the departure of Elon Musk from DOGE leadership leaves uncertainty about the future direction of the initiative, Frank Bisignano has expressed his commitment to DOGE’s principles. Moving the SSA into the digital age will undoubtedly be a lengthy process. Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group, remarked,
There won’t be any immediate impact this year or next. The changes DOGE is driving are mostly tech-heavy—system upgrades, digital improvements, backend overhauls. By the time those improvements are implemented, the technology will already be outdated. It’s a never-ending game of catch-up. What gets upgraded today will need another upgrade tomorrow.
Impact on Call Times and Disability Claims
The average wait time for SSA calls is currently 19.2 minutes, but Bisignano aims to reduce it to 12 minutes by September 2026. Additionally, the time to process initial disability claims is expected to decrease from 231 days to 190 days, thanks to DOGE’s help. However, with the ongoing technological updates and restructuring, some skepticism remains about whether these ambitious goals will be fully achieved.
Financial Losses Due to Incorrect Payments
The SSA also faces challenges with overpayments. In 2023, $8.9 billion was mistakenly paid out, including $97 million due to fraud related to retirement benefits. These figures highlight the significant challenges in curbing errors and fraud within the SSA system.
Despite all the efforts, the modernization of the SSA is not without its challenges. As Kevin Thompson notes,
What many of the staffers are starting to understand is that implementation takes time and doing this will take years, not months or days.
Nonetheless, Frank Bisignano remains optimistic about the future, stating,
The Social Security Administration will continue driving forward modernization efforts, streamlining government systems, and ensuring improved service and outcomes for our beneficiaries.
