Ahead of a pivotal Senate Finance Committee vote on advancing a nominee for Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Senator Bernie Sanders released findings illustrating the potential impact of Elon Musk’s proposal to reduce the SSA workforce by up to 50%. This comes at a time when the administration is already operating with staffing levels reminiscent of 50 years ago.
Musk’s strategy could significantly increase the number of Americans who die waiting for disability benefits, with projections rising from nearly 30,000 in 2023 to a potential 67,000. The wait time for approvals is similarly expected to increase from 236 to approximately 412 days.
Senator Sanders voiced strong opposition, stating, “President Trump and Elon Musk have suggested that ‘millions and millions’ of dead people receive Social Security checks. That is an outrageous lie designed to undermine Americans’ faith in Social Security.” He added that the current situation sees 30,000 dying yearly while waiting for approval, a number that is predicted to worsen under the proposed cuts spearheaded by Frank Bisignano.
In recent years, the SSA workforce responsible for disability determinations has seen a decline. As of 2023, 5,252 full-time employees were tasked with these decisions. The backlog has grown markedly, with wait times for determinations escalating from 111 days in 2017 to an average of 217 days in the past year.
Senator Sanders emphasized the importance of enhancing SSA efficiency rather than reducing its capacity. He stated, “Instead of slashing Social Security’s staff, closing down Social Security field offices, we should be making it easier, not harder, for seniors and people with disabilities to receive the Social Security benefits that they have earned and deserve.”
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