Democratic senators press SSA chief for details on field office shutdowns

Senate Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren, have formally requested that Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano disclose how recent staffing cuts and employee reassignments are affecting the agency’s network of roughly 1,200 field offices. After a 2022 reduction of 7,500 positions under the previous administration, the SSA workforce stands at about 49,500, with over 1,500 staff shifted to staff the 1-800 call center.

Despite Bisignano’s private pledge earlier this year to keep every office open and improve service quality, 16 locations are currently listed as closed or offering only limited in-person assistance, and several rural offices have been shut for extended periods. The senators argue that many of these closures stem from insufficient staff, forcing citizens to travel farther for services, while the agency’s spokesperson maintains that the shutdowns are due to planned renovations and facility problems, not personnel shortages. The dispute highlights ongoing tension over the SSA’s capacity to deliver face-to-face assistance amid chronic underfunding.