Chaos at Social Security: Schumer Calls for Commissioner’s Resignation After Massive Cuts and Failures
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek to resign, citing mass staff firings, office closures, data access failures, and ongoing disruptions to essential services relied upon by 73 million Americans.
“Leland Dudek should resign,” Schumer said. “He won’t protect seniors. He will hurt them.”
The call comes amid growing outrage over Dudek’s handling of the Social Security Administration (SSA), including the firing of over 7,000 employees, malfunctions of critical systems, and a controversial decision to grant DOGE—Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency—access to deeply sensitive beneficiary data.
Mass Layoffs, Office Closures, and Crashed Benefit Portals
Since February, internal chaos and escalating beneficiary complaints have rocked the SSA.
- The agency has announced plans to cut 12% of its total workforce.
- 78% of layoffs so far have hit local field offices, cutting off in-person service for seniors and disabled Americans.
- The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), which maintains SSA’s website and payment systems, plans to fire hundreds more employees.
- System outages have blocked recipients from accessing their benefit records, and some have received false notices claiming their payments were discontinued.
In one instance, SSA’s website reportedly crashed for nearly an entire day, just days after DOGE accessed the system’s backend infrastructure.
“Americans are seeing their earned benefits disrupted because of recklessness and cruelty,” Schumer said. “This is a betrayal of what Social Security stands for.”
Data Breach Concerns and Cybersecurity Exodus
Democratic lawmakers also raised red flags over the exodus of SSA cybersecurity leaders following DOGE’s entry into the agency’s systems. The Washington Post and CNN have both reported that Dudek granted DOGE wide-ranging access to SSA databases without public explanation or oversight.
Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and Kirsten Gillibrand say this decision risks exposing Americans’ most sensitive data to hackers and foreign agents. They also criticized plans to replace fired cybersecurity staff with private contractors, echoing a failed DOGE strategy previously used at the Department of Education.
“OCIO staff are the ones who know how to keep the systems running,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Firing them during a crisis is dangerous and irresponsible.”
Letter Demands Immediate Halt to Layoffs and Restoration of Services
On April 15, Gillibrand, Warren, and Wyden sent Dudek a formal letter demanding the SSA:
- Cease all OCIO firings
- Restore access and functionality to the mySocialSecurity portal
- Answer for DOGE’s involvement in terminations and internal restructuring
- Explain how SSA plans to maintain secure benefit systems amid reduced staff
The senators cited growing reports that officials are falsely labeling beneficiaries as ineligible, erasing account histories, and forcing them to endure hours-long wait times at under-resourced offices.
Democrats Rally Against Trump-Backed Social Security Cuts
The uproar has fueled a broader Democratic campaign. On the national “Save Social Security Day of Action,” Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE are waging a quiet war on Social Security.
“This is a cut by another name,” their joint statement read. “Republicans are trying to kill Social Security from the inside.”
While Democrats work to protect the program, they say Republicans are shutting down access, gutting staff, and prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires over the needs of seniors and disabled Americans.
What’s at Stake for Millions of Americans
Each month, Social Security sends over $126 billion to more than 73 million beneficiaries. For many, that money covers basic needs like rent, food, and medication.
Schumer, Gillibrand, and their colleagues argue that the administration’s cuts are not just inefficient—they’re dangerous. Already, some recipients have reported missed payments, data inaccuracies, and increased difficulty reaching SSA staff.
“This is about dignity,” Schumer said. “And this administration is robbing it from people who earned every penny of their benefits.”
Your Questions Answered
Why is Chuck Schumer calling for Leland Dudek’s resignation?
Due to layoffs, data breaches, and service breakdowns at SSA, which Schumer says are endangering seniors and people with disabilities.
What is DOGE and why is it involved with Social Security?
Trump and Musk launched the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) initiative, granting it wide access to SSA systems and raising privacy and security concerns.
How are Social Security benefits being affected?
SSA’s website and portals have crashed, field offices are understaffed, and recipients are reporting account errors and service delays.
What is the Democratic response?
Democrats are demanding a halt to staff cuts, restoration of SSA systems, and transparency about DOGE’s involvement. They’re campaigning to protect Social Security from what they call an “internal attack.”
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