The Slow Kill: How the GOP is Dismantling Social Security Without a Vote

Delay, Deny, Discourage.

It's March 2025, and the future of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is in jeopardy. Under the second Trump Administration and a Republican-controlled Congress, policies are being enacted that will make it harder for millions of Americans—especially seniors, disabled individuals, and lower-income families—to access the benefits they've earned and rely on to survive. Let me repeat that. Benefits that have been earned.

What's happening isn't just an administrative reshuffle; it's an orchestrated attempt to shrink and weaken these programs without openly admitting to cutting them. Field offices are closing, verification requirements are increasing, and funding cuts are making services harder to access. This isn't about efficiency—it's about making Social Security and other safety net programs more difficult to navigate, discouraging people from claiming what they are owed.

I strongly recommend reading fellow substacker Judd Legum's article on the memo circulated at the Social Security Administration. It breaks down the internal discussions on the changes that are about to be implemented, including warnings of the detrimental impacts.

The Reality: Barriers to Access and Hidden Cuts

Under the guise of combating fraud, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will now require in-person identity verification for new applicants and those changing direct deposit information. Phone-based verification is being eliminated, forcing millions to show up in person. At the same time, SSA is shutting down multiple field offices and laying off thousands of workers, creating bottlenecks and long wait times. If you're elderly, disabled, or living in a rural area, good luck finding an open office within a reasonable distance.

I feel this deeply, especially because of my incredible elderly mom, who faces these same struggles. Asking her to navigate a website alone wouldn't just be frustrating—it would be risky. She comes from a generation that didn't grow up with the internet. While she's incredibly smart and capable, the rapid pace of digital change has overwhelmed her. Suppose your elderly parent or grandparent were forced to manage their Social Security benefits online without guidance. In that case, I worry they could unknowingly fall into a scam—mistakenly entering personal information on a fraudulent site that looks just like the actual SSA page, a tactic called website spoofing. The idea of them being misled or exploited simply because they can't speak to a real person on the phone is heartbreaking. And, how is this truly actually countering fraud? If anything, it makes vulnerable people even more susceptible to it. Furthermore, what happens to our loved ones who can't visit an office in person due to transportation or disability challenges?

Despite the fact that many seniors and disabled Americans struggle with digital access, these changes are set to go into full effect on March 31st, 2025, impacting more than 72 million Americans who rely on the platform amid a slew of planned office closures across the country. The Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) website says it plans to shut down at least 47 Social Security field offices in places with large rural communities, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.

That's the problem—closing SSA field offices while simultaneously requiring millions of Americans to verify their identity in person is a logistical disaster. The administration claims that moving more services online and increasing efficiency through AI-driven processing will offset the closures, but the reality is far more messy. 

Here are some key Issues with this plan:

Severe Bottlenecks at SSA Offices: With fewer field offices and fewer staff, the remaining offices will face overwhelming demand. Long lines, more appointment delays, and backlogs are inevitable, particularly in rural areas where people may have to travel hours to the nearest open location.

Disproportionate Impact on Seniors and Disabled Individuals: Many Social Security beneficiaries are elderly or disabled, meaning they are less likely to have reliable transportation or be comfortable using online alternatives. Cutting phone-based services and forcing them to appear in person creates unnecessary hardship.

Increased Wait Times for Benefits: Processing in-person verifications with a reduced workforce will cause delays in benefit approvals and direct deposit changes. Due to these delays, people relying on Social Security payments to survive could experience financial strain. The wait times to make an in-person appointment are already over a month.

Urban vs. Rural Disparity: Larger cities may still have functioning offices, but rural Americans—who already struggle with access to government services—will be disproportionately affected. The closure of offices will make it harder for them to meet the new in-person requirement.

Potential for Chaos and Legal Challenges: The SSA is already seeing lawsuits regarding Elon Musk's DOGE minions accessing Americans' financial, medical, and personal information housed in the SSA databases. We should expect labor unions and advocacy groups to raise alarms and file legal proceedings, arguing that these changes disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. 

What's the Real Goal?

Shrinking SSA's footprint and pushing people toward online services, despite many lacking the means to use them, could potentially reduce payouts over time. Medicare and Medicaid are also said to be on the chopping block. Needless to say, this is a horrible and devastating idea—even Steve Bannon is raising the alarm about this one. The cumulative effect? Millions could find themselves unable to access the healthcare and retirement benefits they depend on.

The Republican Playbook: A Long History of Undermining Social Security

If this feels familiar, it's because Republicans have been trying to dismantle or weaken Social Security for decades. Let's look at the pattern:

1935: Republicans opposed Social Security's creation under FDR, calling him a socialist. Let’s be honest. They're still using the term socialism for practically anything and everything the Democrats do today.

1981: President Ronald Reagan attempted cuts but was forced to backtrack due to massive public backlash. The reality was that Social Security was on the brink of insolvency in the early 1980s, and failure to act could have caused a crisis. After the initial failure, he worked with Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill to form the National Commission on Social Security Reform (led by Alan Greenspan). The commission developed a set of bipartisan recommendations, leading to the 1983 Social Security Amendments, which included gradually raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 (for future retirees), taxing Social Security benefits for higher-income recipients, and increasing payroll taxes to bolster the Social Security trust fund. Reagan quickly realized that social security was untouchable without bipartisan support. 

2005: George W. Bush tried to partially privatize Social Security, but widespread opposition crushed the proposal.

2010s: Former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and other GOP leaders repeatedly pushed for raising the retirement age, means-testing benefits, and cutting cost-of-living adjustments.

So here we are today—seeing a new version of the same playbook: weaken the infrastructure, create artificial inefficiencies, and make it so frustrating to access benefits that fewer people will try. It's an indirect but highly effective way to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid without ever having to pass legislation that would spark immediate public outrage. If you think the town halls happening now with outraged constituents are bad—wait until April 1st if this gets implemented. To be fair, it's true that without reforms, Social Security could face a funding shortfall by the mid-2030s. However, the solution shouldn't come from partisan fights or reckless cuts—it requires a genuine, bipartisan effort to find a sustainable path forward.

Historically, public pressure has stopped Republican-led efforts to weaken Social Security. Donald Trump backed off direct cuts in his first term because they were politically toxic. The lesson? Fighting back works—but only if the people collectively mobilize.

Here are my two cents on how to do it:

Make the Political Cost Too High: Republicans traditionally rely on seniors as a core voter base. Elected officials will feel the heat if seniors realize they're being betrayed. Spread the word in retirement communities, churches, and civic groups. Flood social media, town halls, and congressional offices with calls, emails, and visits.

State and Local Governments Can Step In: Some states are hiring laid-off SSA workers to help residents navigate new hurdles. States can launch emergency assistance programs for those struggling with new requirements.

Use Legal and Bureaucratic Delays to Our Advantage: Lawsuits can slow down the implementation of these changes. Congressional oversight and whistleblower testimonies can expose the real impact of these policies. Advocacy groups must keep pressure on the administration to reverse damaging policies.

Expose the Real Intent: President Trump promised to protect Social Security, but now he's making it harder for people to access it. Hold him accountable. Frame the conversation around earned benefits, not entitlements. Americans paid into Social Security and Medicare. These aren't handouts; they are contractual obligations from the government to the people!

If these changes take hold, they won't just affect retiree and disabled individuals today—they will set a precedent that makes it easier to erode not just Social Security but certainly Medicare and Medicaid in the near future.

Until next time,

Olivia