The agency is also restructuring and closing six of 10 regional offices that coordinate and provide support to employees who serve beneficiaries.
President Trump’s escalating initiative to drastically cut the federal work force has reached the Social Security Administration, a crucial program that keeps millions of older Americans out of poverty, which said on Friday that it would reduce its head count by more than 12 percent.
The Social Security Administration, which sends about 73 million retired and disabled beneficiaries more than $126 billion each month, said it had plans to cut roughly 7,000 workers from its 57,000-member work force.
The agency will also shutter six regional offices, which coordinate and provide support to workers on the front lines who serve beneficiaries, bringing the total count to four: in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest/West Region and Southwest. The agency said the reductions would focus on functions and employees “who do not directly provide mission critical services.”
Those who do work with beneficiaries hold positions in field offices, disability hearing offices and payment centers and support its toll-free customer service line.
Amid the cuts, two dozen senior staff members have announced their departures, according to a memo issued Friday from Leland C. Dudek, the Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner. He took the reins after Michelle King, the previous acting commissioner, left abruptly after refusing to give people working on the government’s cost-cutting initiative access to closely held data.
“I have never seen so many senior executives leave the Social Security Administration at one time,” said Jason Fichtner, who has served in several positions at the agency, including deputy commissioner and chief economist. “Coming so soon after the resignation of acting Commissioner Michelle King, this is evidence that the agency is in turmoil and needs an experienced leader to take control.”