The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced plans on Friday to cut 7,000 jobs, reducing its workforce by over 12%.
The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to downsize the federal government.
The SSA, which delivers benefits to 73 million retired and disabled Americans each month, stated its intention to streamline operations.
“The agency plans to reduce the size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure, with a significant focus on functions and employees who do not directly provide mission-critical services,” the SSA said. “Social Security recently set a staffing target of 50,000, down from the current level of approximately 57,000 employees.”
As part of the restructuring, the agency will also consolidate its regional offices, reducing the number from ten to four.
Historically, the SSA has been viewed as essential and largely protected from budget cuts by lawmakers. However, President Donald Trump had assured voters during his re-election campaign that Social Security benefits would remain untouched despite plans to reduce government spending.
The White House and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The restructuring triggered internal upheaval, with two dozen senior SSA officials resigning on Friday. According to a memo by acting commissioner Leland Dudek, seen by Reuters, the resignations followed concerns over leadership changes and agency direction.
Dudek assumed leadership after Michelle King, the previous acting commissioner, stepped down. King resigned after raising concerns about members of billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE accessing SSA’s computer systems, which store personal data on millions of Americans.
The Trump administration and DOGE have collectively reduced the federal civilian workforce by more than 100,000 jobs through a mix of layoffs and buyouts. Trump and Musk argue the cuts are necessary to eliminate inefficiencies in government.
