By Meryl Kornfield · The Washington Post (c) 2025
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (New York) and four other Senate Democrats are urging the Social Security Administration’s inspector general’s office to investigate the impacts of the U.S. DOGE Service’s dramatic restructuring and sweeping cuts to the government agency.
The letter sent to the inspector general’s office Wednesday is part of a broader Democratic effort to defend Social Security from what they describe as a reckless government downsizing campaign spearheaded by Donald Trump adviser Elon Musk. The agency provides critical benefits to more than 70 million Americans, and the lawmakers say the recent upheaval could leave many without access to basic services.
Having received few answers about the scale and effect of the cuts, Schumer led the call for oversight from the agency’s independent watchdog because that avenue has yielded answers in the past, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.
The letter was signed by Schumer and Sens. Ron Wyden (Oregon), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Kirsten Gillibrand (New York) and Mark Kelly (Arizona).
In the sharply worded letter to acting inspector general Michelle L. Anderson, the lawmakers expressed “deep concern” over what they called a “drastic” disruption to Social Security’s ability to serve the public. The letter cites mass layoffs, additional pressure on existing staff and a dramatic overhaul of internal agency structures – many carried out, the lawmakers say, with little to no transparency.
“This will undoubtedly lead to disruption in benefit payments and increasing barriers for Americans to access their Social Security benefits,” the senators wrote.
The senators asked the inspector general to determine whether Social Security assessed what effect the changes could have had and whether they have affected customer service. The lawmakers also requested quarterly updates from the independent watchdog on the effects stemming from the agency’s changes.
White House spokeswoman Liz Huston told The Washington Post in a statement that Democrats’ concerns were “fake.”
“President Trump will fiercely protect Social Security, eliminate unfair benefit taxes to boost seniors’ take-home pay, and drive the Social Security Administration to modernize systems, enhance customer service, and combat fraud,” she said.
The move follows a similar push in the House. Last week, Rep. Gerry Connolly (Virginia) – the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee – sent a separate letter to Anderson urging a full investigation into DOGE’s changes within the agency, citing whistleblower allegations that the restructuring has “already degraded operations” and put beneficiaries’ sensitive data at risk.
While Musk and DOGE officials have defended their approach as an overdue modernization of a bloated bureaucracy, Democrats argue the opaque, rapid-fire changes are putting some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens at risk.
The growing drumbeat from Democrats suggests Social Security could become a centerpiece issue in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. Party operatives have already begun using the Musk-led restructuring efforts in political ads targeting Republican lawmakers. Last week, former president Joe Biden broke his silence for the first time since leaving office to warn of the consequences of cuts to Social Security.