THE GAY AGENDA
The State of Social Security
In an era of political turbulence and administrative shake-ups, the Trump Administration's handling of the Social Security Administration has drawn sharp scrutiny. As the agency is weakened, the future for Social Security that appears more uncertain than ever.
June 25, 2025
Image: Adobe Stock
Social Security Administration Image
Image: Creative Commons/Flickr
Image: Adobe Stock
USE ARROWS TO MOVE THROUGH IMAGES
By Mike Broemmel
They’re not seen much at this juncture in the 21st century, but if you’re a person of a particular age, you may recall electronic signs festooned on bank buildings that flickered between the current time (to the minute) and the temperature (to the degree). Those bank signs were in something of a heyday during an era when most folks gave little thought to the prospect that Social Security would be impugned or even pinched out of existence when their retirement rolled around.
As the Administration of Donald Trump tries to cement its policies into place at least to some degree, a relatively commonplace discussion, from the halls of Congress to kitchen tables across the nation, centers on the state of Social Security. In this regard, Americans – including those in the LGBTQ+ community – are faced with a White House that frequently seems to change the Administration’s position regarding both Social Security for retired persons and Americans with historically qualifying disabilities. In addition, and while it has become something of an anti-Trump mantra, a person trying to cypher the evolving state and future of Social Security must carve through untrue statements being made by officials in the Trump Administration.
For these various reasons, those electronic bank signs of days gone by could play a role today. Arguably, they might be helpful in declaring the latest stance of the Trump Administration regarding Social Security.
A starting point in trying to assess what is on the horizon for Social Security involves a consideration of some of the more immediate actions the Trump Administration has taken regarding this federal agency. First, an examination of what the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has done or thus far has failed to do regarding allegations of fraud at the agency. Second, a review of the DOGE seizure of confidential records of Americans is necessary. Finally, the impact of staff cuts at the agency needs to be part of the mix when contemplating the state of the agency.
The First Trumpist Strategy to Revamp the Social Security Administration: Doing a DOGE to the Social Security Administration
Not long after Trump was sort of sworn in as President of the United States (“sort of” being a fair accounting since he elected not to put his hand on the Bible, a feature of being administered the oath of office,) DOGE was launched at full steam. DOGE, the so-called Department of Governmental Efficiency, is neither a department nor objectively efficient.
DOGE dove into the Social Security Administration harping aloud that the fraud was rampant. Specifically, various cohorts of people were obtaining Social Security benefits through fraudulent means. At various times, announcements were made by DOGE and the White House that billions of dollars of fraud had been uncovered.
Image: Social Security Administration
In response to this, the Trump Administration imposed restrictions on how consumers could access the Social Security Administration in order to obtain benefits or to otherwise do business with the agency. In the end, fraud at the agency was miniscule. Out of over 110,000 new cases, only two were identified as having a probability of being fraudulent. In other words, far less than 1% potential fraud was found.
The actions of the Trump administration in response to the unsupported allegations of extensive fraud drastically delayed the processing of retirement claims submitted to the agency.
In light of the conclusion that fraud involving the Social Security Administration is not widespread, the agency has begun to back away from the restrictions placed upon the retirement benefits application process at the agency.
Another DOGE Strike: Seizing Confidential Social Security Records
In addition to DOGE debunked allegations of fraud, the DOGE squad was focused on obtaining unbridled access to data maintained by the Social Security Administration. The manner in which DOGE intended to use that confidential information frequently changed, sometimes altering more than once the same day.
In May 2025, U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander put a kibosh on DOGE’s expansive seizure of confidential information maintained by the Social Security Administration. In handing down a permanent injunction against the Trump Administration, Hollander ruled:
To be sure, rooting out possible fraud, waste, and mismanagement in the Social Security Administration is in the public interest. But that does not mean that the government can flout the law to do so … For some 90 years, the Social Security Administration has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records. This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation.
Image: Flickr / Creative Commons
In the aftermath of the federal court injunction, DOGE must delete any non-anonymous data the group seized, stop unauthorized use of any such information, and remove software installed on Social Security systems.
Impact of Massive Agency Staff Dismissals
As it did with other federal agencies, DOGE moved into the Social Security Administration to eliminate a significant position of its workforce. As of this juncture in time, it appears that the actions of DOGE and the Trump Administration has resulted in the dismissal of approximately 12 percent of its workforce, according to the Office of Budget and Management. In addition, some 2,000 people have voluntarily left the agency as a result of the machinations of the Trump Administration broadly and DOGE more specifically.
Into the Future: What Lies Ahead is Uncertain at Best
The bottom line is that at this juncture in time, the Social Security Administration is unstable. Therefore, doing business with the agency – including the submission of an application for retirement benefits – will be far more time consuming. Obtaining Social Security disability assistance will take an even more extended period of time, understanding that historically it could take a couple of years to obtain this assistance.
Predictions abound as to what Social Security and the agency’s benefits will look like moving forward. In an era of political turbulence and administrative shake-ups, the Trump Administration's handling of the Social Security Administration has drawn sharp scrutiny. Under the banner of rooting out fraud, the Department of Governmental Efficiency enacted sweeping restrictions and personnel cuts, despite finding only two likely fraudulent cases out of 110,000. Federal courts have since blocked the administration’s attempts to seize private Social Security data. The result? A weakened agency, delayed benefits, and a future for Social Security that appears more uncertain than ever.
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About the author
Writing and journalism has been at the heart of Mike’s life after graduating from college with a degree in political science and journalism and beginning his career in the White House Office of Media Relations and Planning (and then in the Office of the First Lady). A primary focus of his work has been in the realm of political analysis and commentary. Mike is also a playwright with several productions addressing issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion that have been produced internationally.