New Report: Social Security Administration Field Offices Lost An Estimated 20% of Staff This Year

New reporting from Axios detailing the full extent of the Trump Administration’s workforce cuts in Social Security Administration field offices was published Thursday and shows how this is affecting Americans across the country.

Axios analyzed a new report “Social Security’s Staffing Crisis” by the Strategic Organizing Center that compared staffing levels from March 2024 and March 2025. It found that the staff cuts implemented by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency exacerbated already low SSA staffing levels at 1,200 field offices. More than 1,000 workers accepted DOGE “buyouts” and another 1,000 workers have been reassigned from field offices to answer customer service calls to the national 1-800 number.

“When it takes too long to get your benefits into your bank account after you file because of the understaffing situation, you're going months and months without needed income that was promised to you because you paid in your whole life," says Jessica LaPointe, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220, which represents about 25,000 Social Security Administration employees.

Meanwhile, the uncertainty created by the Administration’s disinformation and changes at the SSA have put more demands on the agency with more Americans visiting field offices and an 18 percent increase in benefit claims. SSA workers report that the influx of in person visitors combined with reduced office staffing has resulted in longer appointment wait times and walk-in visitors being turned away. Beneficiaries have to wait an average of 35 days for an in person appointment, as of July 2025.

Figure A, “Social Security’s Staffing Crisis,” Strategic Organizing Center

“This new data reminds us that DOGE workforce cuts have caused massive damage and made it harder for Social Security beneficiaries to get the benefits they have earned. We need more people at SSA answering the phones and staffing field offices, not fewer,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “Congress must take action to demand that Social Security field offices are fully staffed.”

Alliance Members Mark Social Security’s 90th Anniversary with Mobilization Events Across the Country

Alliance members have joined the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other labor allies to hold dozens of “Save Social Security” events to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the earned benefits program.

Find an event near you. Click here to RSVP. 

On Tuesday, more than 100 people attended a Social Security anniversary town hall co-hosted by the Arizona Alliance and Honest Arizona. Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ) and former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley spoke at the event. 

Senator Kelly discussed the negative impacts of DOGE cuts on the Social Security Administration and beneficiaries, saying “this administration has fired a lot of people that administer Social Security, so it's hard for people to receive their benefits. Our wait times are up. Offices are being closed. Staffing is cut drastically, and this is for an agency that was very efficient.”

“The agency has never experienced six months like these last six months, with more people pushed out the door in an agency that was already at a 50-year low in staffing and – because of baby boomers of my generation, I know you're all much younger than me – customers grown to an all-time high,” O’Malley added. “With so many cuts in such a short period of time, including a reduction of their IT staff by 40 percent, we are probably headed towards a benefit interruption of some type at some point.”

Alliance members are also scheduling rallies and presenting “Retiree Hero” and “Retiree Zero” awards to highlight legislators’ pro-retiree scores in our annual Congressional Voting Record. Texas Alliance members presented Rep. Mark Veasey (TX) with a “Retiree Hero” Award after holding a Social Security anniversary rally in Dallas on Wednesday. Yesterday, the Wisconsin Alliance held an anniversary rally in front of the SSA office in Wasau, and John “JD” Doran, 2nd Vice President of the New Mexico Alliance and AFSCME retiree, spoke at a Social Security Awareness press conference held by Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM). 

Top left: New Mexico Alliance members with Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM); Bottom left: Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley and Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ) at the Arizona Alliance’s Social Security town hall; Right: Texas Alliance presents a “Retiree Hero” Award to Rep. Mark Veasey (TX)

“Our Alliance activists are speaking out about the need to protect and strengthen Social Security,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “At a time when SSA is still reeling from the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) cuts and prices for essential items like groceries are rising, it’s more important than ever to defend earned benefits. We urge everyone to attend an event next week.”

New Poll Shows Most Americans Are Stressed About Grocery Prices

A new AP-NORC poll shows that Americans are concerned about the high cost of groceries, with more than half of those surveyed reporting that buying groceries is a major source of stress.

A large portion of those surveyed also reported that the cost of housing (47 percent), the amount of money they have saved or made (43 percent), and the cost of health care (42 percent) are significant sources of stress. Respondents were not as concerned about the cost of childcare, student debt, and credit card debt, with less than 30% specifying these factors as a major financial burden. Despite President Trump’s campaign promise to lower grocery prices and bring costs down “starting on day one,” prices have risen each month since January. In June, food prices were up by 3 percent compared to 2024. 

“Sky high grocery prices are putting a real strain on Americans, especially seniors living on fixed incomes,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “This is unacceptable. Americans should be able to afford basic necessities.” 

Fiesta Speaks at A. Philip Randolph Convention

Alliance Executive Director Richard Fiesta participated in the A. Philip Randolph Institute National Education Conference in Chicago this week, giving a talk on threats to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from policies being enacted by

Congress and the Trump Administration.

Founded by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin in 1965, APRI is an organization of Black trade unionists and allies fighting for racial equality and economic justice.

“For more than 70 percent of Black beneficiaries, Social Security makes up at least half of their income, while 30 percent rely on Social Security for all of their income,” said Fiesta. “The benefits we worked a lifetime to earn are under attack and we must organize and fight back.” 

KFF Health News: Congress Looks To Ease Restrictions on Veterans’ Use of Non-VA Clinics and Hospitals

By Tony Leys

WATERLOO, Iowa — John-Paul Sager appreciates the care he has received at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, but he thinks it should be easier for veterans like him to use their benefits elsewhere.

Sager, a Marine Corps and Army veteran, uses his VA coverage for non-VA treatment of back injuries stemming from his military service. But he said he sometimes must make several phone calls to obtain approval to see a local chiropractor. “It seems like it takes entirely too long,” he said.

Many veterans live hours from VA facilities, or they need health services that aren’t readily available from the VA. In such cases, the department is supposed to provide a referral and pay for private care. Critics say it often hesitates to do so.

Click here to read more.

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