1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The current crisis at the Social Security Administration did not arise by accident. It is the direct result of deliberate policy decisions made by the Trump administration through the OMB and DOGE. But Social Security benefits are funded by workers and employers through dedicated payroll contributions. These are earned benefits and when they are delayed or denied, the government is failing to deliver money that belongs to the people who paid into the system. Under OMB directives and DOGE initiatives, SSA staffing was reduced or frozen while workloads increased. The predictable result has been massive backlogs, service failures, and delays that now affect millions of Americans. Congress has constitutional authority over appropriations and oversight, and you must act when executive branch actions undermine the lawful operation of a critical agency. I urge Congress to: • Hold oversight hearings examining the role of OMB and DOGE in creating SSA backlogs • Require full transparency on staffing levels, processing delays, and administrative directives • Restore and increase funding to meet actual workload demands Every delay represents real harm — missed rent, delayed medical care, and financial insecurity — imposed on people who upheld their side of the Social Security compact. Congress must step in to correct the damage and protect beneficiaries.