Elon Musk may have walked away from his controversial government post, but the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—his brainchild—keeps charging ahead. And for millions of Social Security beneficiaries, that’s both a promise and a problem.
Musk Walks Away, DOGE Charges On
| What’s Changing | Stat |
|---|---|
| Field office closures | 47 since Jan 2025 |
| Pending case backlog | 1M+ increase vs 2024 |
| AI-handled calls | 44% of 1-800 inquiries |
Musk’s departure from DOGE might feel like a reset. It isn’t. The tech-first overhaul of the Social Security system is happening fast—and not everyone is on board. For Social Security beneficiaries, it’s a moment of both opportunity and caution: better efficiency may come, but at a potential cost to accessibility and trust.
Musk’s Exit, DOGE’s Persistence
On May 30, 2025, Elon Musk formally resigned from DOGE, a tech-centric agency created during Trump’s second administration. The departure followed a very public spat with the former president, but DOGE’s operational grip hasn’t loosened.
DOGE still oversees aspects of Social Security tech modernization under the leadership of Commissioner Frank Bisignano. Despite the optics, Musk’s digital fingerprints are all over the current rollout—especially in AI systems and staff restructuring.
I’ve worked with legacy government systems before, and modernizing them is no joke. But jumping straight into AI without guardrails is like teaching a robot to swim by throwing it in the deep end.
The Supreme Court Ruling That Changed Everything
On June 6, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of DOGE’s right to access the full internal data trove of the Social Security Administration (SSA). This includes names, SSNs, earnings history, bank data, and even some medical details. The decision overturned a Maryland court’s earlier ruling that tried to limit such access due to privacy risks.
DOGE remains exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) disclosures while a broader challenge works its way through federal courts. That means watchdog groups—and even Congress—have limited visibility into how DOGE is using SSA data.
A Mixed Bag for SSA Users
Faster for Some, Frustrating for Others
AI now handles 44% of all calls to SSA’s main help line. That’s streamlined certain tasks like benefit status updates or general questions. But it’s also left many callers in automated loops, especially when their situations don’t fit the script.
Meanwhile, 47 field offices have closed this year, and SSA staffing is down 12% compared to 2024. For complex cases—especially disability claims or Medicare disputes—delays are stacking up.
“I waited seven weeks just to speak to someone about my survivor benefits application,” says Lisa Ramirez, 67, from Lubbock, Texas. “The AI kept bouncing me back to the start.”
New Rules, New Hurdles
As of April 14, 2025, all Social Security benefit applications now require either in-person verification or facial-recognition logins via an SSA.gov account. Phone verification is no longer accepted—posing challenges for those without smartphones or internet access.
This affects retirement, survivors, spousal, and disability claims. Rural seniors and low-income applicants may face the greatest friction.
Privacy on the Line
With DOGE accessing massive amounts of sensitive data—and little oversight to match—it’s no surprise privacy groups are on edge. Several have filed emergency petitions in federal court to halt DOGE’s access pending a full review.
Experts are also wary of the unvetted staff transfers from Musk’s tech firms into federal systems. “You’re introducing non-civilian, non-government contractors into high-trust data pipelines. That’s a recipe for breaches,” said cybersecurity analyst Dr. Nia Charles at George Mason University.
Fraud Fear and Fact Checks
Musk had previously claimed that “millions of phantom beneficiaries” were still receiving payments—even claiming that some were over 120 years old. These allegations fueled early DOGE initiatives and justified aggressive audits.
But SSA’s Inspector General found the error rate to be under 1% of all benefits paid. Most oddities were traced back to misinterpreted COBOL data, not widespread fraud.
What Beneficiaries Should Do Now
If you’re a Social Security beneficiary or planning to apply soon:
- Check local office status: Closures may reroute you to online services.
- Plan for delays: Response times may stretch into months.
- Protect your info: Be cautious with unsolicited SSA communications—DOGE data expansion may increase scam attempts.
- Watch for policy updates: As litigation and oversight bills move, rules may shift again quickly.
