Since President Donald Trump took office in January, he has proposed an ambitious agenda, including several key changes that could impact how the Social Security Administration functions.
During Trump’s joint address to Congress this past March, he called attention to his efforts in the early weeks of his second term. He covered a wide range of topics and outlined his plans for the next four years, including investigating what he said was fraud and waste within the Social Security program.
In 2025, about 73 million Americans will receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both, according to the Social Security Administration, with nearly $1.6 trillion in benefits paid out annually. Trump's agenda could directly impact Social Security, a significant source of income for most people over age 65. However, the program is on shaky ground and will need to reduce benefits in ten years if Congress doesn't make changes to bolster its finances.
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Although it's still early days into his second term, here’s what Trump has done with Social Security so far. (A separate story looks at what Trump has done with Medicare so far).
Trump taps Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano as the new Social Security Administration (SSA) commissioner
President Trump's current acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration is Leland "Lee" Dudek. He was appointed after Michelle King resigned. Dudek was previously a senior advisor in SSA's Office of Program Integrity. Dudek will fill the role pending the Senate confirmation of Trump's choice to lead the agency, Fiserv CEO, Frank Bisignano.
During his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, March 25, Bisignano told senators he had ‘not thought about’ privatizing Social Security. He also said that Trump had said that Social Security benefits would not be cut under his administration, a plan he supported.
Read: Social Security Under Trump: Live Updates to Keep You Up to Date
Trump implements the Social Security Fairness Act
The Social Security Administration recently announced it will begin paying retroactive benefits and increase monthly benefit payments to over 3.2 million individuals whose benefits were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).
“Social Security’s aggressive schedule to start issuing retroactive payments in February and increase monthly benefit payments beginning in April supports President Trump’s implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “The agency’s original estimate of taking a year or more now will only apply to complex cases that automation cannot process. The American people deserve their due benefits as quickly as possible.”
Read: Social Security Sent Out Billions in Back Payments This Week. Here's What You Need to Know.
DOGE reduces staffing at the SSA
In the early days of his administration, President Trump signed an executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and made Elon Musk a “special government employee.” His role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) appears now to focus on federal technology and personnel in its stated goal to cut government spending, waste and fraud, and optimize the workforce.
In response to DOGE’s inquiries, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has reduced its staffing target to 50,000 employees, down from the current number of around 57,000. It also identified cost savings opportunities in grants, contracts, property and technology. According to the SSA, the total savings are estimated to exceed $800 million in fiscal 2025.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) also walked back plans to make significant reductions to its phone services by eliminating telephone support for claims processing and direct-deposit account transactions. Instead, the agency has decided to proceed with a narrower revision barring direct-deposit changes via phone.
Read: Social Security Administration: DOGE Cannot Make Changes to Benefit Payments
The SSA to close offices
In collaboration with DOGE, President Trump has directed the General Services Administration (GSA) to terminate leases on approximately 7,500 federal offices, including those of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Most of these offices are currently underutilized or closed. However, as the Social Security Administration is already at its lowest staffing level in 25 years, the closures are raising questions about the accessibility of services for beneficiaries.
This is especially troubling since, starting April 14, 2025, individuals can no longer apply for Social Security benefits or make changes to their direct deposit information over the phone. Instead, they will need to stop into a local office or set up a My Social Security account online, both of which could pose challenges for older individuals who may have difficulty accessing local offices or navigating online systems.
Update: The SSA issued a press release, “Correcting the Record about Social Security Office Closings,” to reassure the public that “the agency has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office.”
Read: 47 Local Social Security Offices to Close After DOGE Cuts
Trump doubles down on no tax on Social Security
During his campaign, President Trump wrote on social media, "Seniors should not pay tax on Social Security." He doubled down on that promise during his joint address to Congress. Trump called for no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security benefits, emphasizing that reducing waste and fraud would help lower inflation, balance the budget and strengthen the economy — although some states still tax beneficiaries. This bill has not yet been enacted.
Read: What's Wrong With Trump's Pledge to End Taxes on Social Security Benefits
No more paper Social Security checks
Roughly 456,000 Americans receive paper Social Security checks. However, that's about to end soon. An executive order signed by President Trump this past March mandates that the federal government stop sending paper Social Security checks — effective September 30, 2025. That means that if you currently receive a paper check, you must set up a direct deposit of your payments before that date to avoid disruption in your benefits.
Read: U.S. Treasury to Eliminate Paper Checks: What It Means for Tax Refunds, Social Security
In-person identity verification
Originally scheduled to go into effect on March 31, but postponed due to criticism from advocacy groups, beneficiaries, and congressional representatives, individuals will no longer be able to apply for Social Security benefits or make changes to their direct deposit information over the phone starting April 14. Instead, they will be required to either use their online "My Social Security" account or go to their nearest Social Security office to verify their identity.
Initiatives to become more transparent
The Social Security Administration is implementing several initiatives that it says will "promote greater transparency and accountability within its customer service department." These initiatives include publishing Social Security challenges and actions taken online, releasing weekly operational report meetings on YouTube and increasing the amount of detail shared with the public on wait times.
Read: The Average Social Security Check for Retirees in Every State
Recovering Social Security overpayments
As of March 27, the Social Security Administration will withhold 100% of a person's monthly benefit to recover any overpayments made to beneficiaries. Previously, it withheld 10% of monthly benefits until the overpayment was recovered.
But the full withholding of monthly benefits isn't new. This policy was also in place during the Obama and the first Trump administrations. Full clawbacks of overpayments proved difficult or impossible for some beneficiaries to pay, so the SSA took a softer approach in 2024. However, full clawbacks are expected to save the federal government around $7 billion over the next ten years.
Read: Social Security New Rule: Overpayments Must Be Paid Back 100%. Why It Matters
Trump says he will not cut Social Security benefits
“The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits,” the White House said in a press release. “President Trump himself has said it (over and over and over again).”
Read: President Trump's Stances on Social Security and Medicare
Trump wants to lower inflation, which will impact COLAs
Lowering inflation can have a positive effect on Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) by stabilizing prices. That, in turn, can help maintain the purchasing power of wages. However, recent tariffs proposed by Trump may temporarily raise inflation, complicating the efforts to achieve lower COLAs.
Read: Retirees Get a Raise in Their Social Security Benefits
Trump cracks down on immigration
President Trump issued several executive orders related to the enforcement of immigration across the border. Although just speculation at this point, an immigration crackdown could potentially reduce labor supply in some industries, such as home healthcare. These changes could lead to higher prices for some products and higher inflation, affecting Social Security COLAs.
Read: Are Armed IRS Agents Headed to the Border?
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