1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

The recent cyber disruption caused by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, resulting in a crash of the Social Security Administration website, is deeply concerning. This outage has prevented elderly individuals and low-income families from accessing critical online services, applying for government assistance, and managing their payments. The apparent lack of proper testing for the anti-fraud measures implemented by DOGE's young and inexperienced tech staff, including a 19-year-old college freshman, has led to this unacceptable situation. It is unacceptable for a government agency responsible for providing essential services and support to vulnerable populations to experience such severe technical failures due to reckless and poorly planned actions. Furthermore, the ongoing overhaul of the Social Security Administration by the current administration, which has already led to the expulsion of 7,000 workers and plans for thousands more layoffs, raises grave concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its vital role. The claims by DOGE advisers suggesting that reinstalling 20% of the cuts will be necessary due to inevitable mistakes are alarming and demonstrate a complete disregard for the well-being of those relying on these services. It is imperative that DOGE be immediately removed from any involvement with the Social Security Administration and that steps be taken to restore the agency's functionality, ensure uninterrupted access to online services and payments, and protect the rights and welfare of its beneficiaries. The reckless actions of DOGE have already caused significant harm and cannot be allowed to continue. Prioritizing the needs of vulnerable populations over political agendas and misguided "efficiency" measures is essential.