Social Security Benefits To Be Interrupted Soon: Ex-Administrator

Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley is warning that benefit payments could soon be delayed for millions of Americans, citing deep staffing cuts and internal chaos at the Social Security Administration (SSA) under the Trump administration.

Speaking at a public forum in Long Island on Monday, O’Malley said he believes an interruption in payments could be imminent.

“I truly believe there’s going to be some interruption of benefits for some period of time, and I believe that will probably happen in the very near future,” O’Malley said, according to Long Island Press. “I’ve never hoped I was wrong so much in my life.”

Why It Matters

More than 70 million Americans rely on Social Security, including retirees, disabled individuals and surviving family members. The benefits are often the primary source of income for many recipients.

O’Malley’s warning sounds an alarm that vital monthly checks could be delayed, leaving vulnerable Americans in financial jeopardy.

The concerns center on a series of rapid and sweeping changes initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump initiative tasked with reducing federal spending.

What To Know

O’Malley, who led the SSA from 2023 to 2024 under former President Joe Biden, has consistently warned that cuts proposed and implemented by DOGE could jeopardize the delivery of Social Security benefits.

“Ultimately, you’re going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits,” O’Malley told CNBC. “I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days.”

The SSA has already cut 7,000 positions—about 12 percent of its workforce. The reductions have caused delays in claim approvals and repeated service outages.

At a town hall event on Monday hosted by Representatives Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi, O’Malley detailed how the staffing changes have led to system instability. Gillen and Suozzi echoed O’Malley’s concerns, with Suozzi questioning why “you cut 7,000 employees to save 0.06 percent of the budget from one of the most important agencies?”

SSA’s acting commissioner, Lee Dudek, has defended the changes, claiming they are necessary to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.

“For too long, SSA has operated on autopilot,” Dudek said in a March 3 press release. “It is time to change just that.”

Meanwhile, tech mogul Elon Musk, who is leading DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts, referred to Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time” during a recent interview with Joe Rogan—a comment that drew sharp rebukes from Democratic lawmakers like Senator Bernie Sanders.

“What is the goal of this disinformation campaign? To privatize the most successful government program in history and give it over to Wall Street,” Sanders said in a post on Musk-owned X, formerly Twitter.

What People Are Saying

Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “Looking at O’Malley’s warnings, I think we’re seeing smoke that could absolutely lead to fire. The comb of big staffing cuts, office closures and system outages….It all creates a recipe making payment interruptions a real possibility for the first time in Social Security’s history.”

Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: “Social Security benefits aren’t being interrupted any more now than before DOGE. The primary issue was the push to move applications online, which faced backlash, especially from boomers who struggled with the tech and website glitches. Fortunately, the administration responded by reopening the phone lines to better accommodate those who prefer speaking with someone.”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “From a customer service standpoint, it does appear the Social Security Administration is feeling pressure at the moment, as layoffs have meant more work to do for a smaller staff of employees. The distribution of benefits has yet to see any negative effects, but with other aspects of the administration falling behind, it’s easy to see why there are concerns future payments could be delayed….Few Americans will tolerate missed payments or slower customer service for a program they paid into for decades.”

What Happens Next

Despite the immediate risks, no official changes to benefit payments have occurred.

However, the SSA’s recent restructuring has dismantled key internal offices and severed ties with academic research partnerships, such as the Retirement and Disability Research Consortium, which provided insight into long-term policy effectiveness.

“DOGE’s approach seems flawed,” Ryan said. “You can’t just slash 10+ percent of staff, close offices and expect everything to run smoothly. Social Security already operates with minimal administrative costs [less than 1 percent of benefits paid], so there isn’t much fat to trim without hitting muscle.”

O’Malley stressed the urgency for legislative action and public pressure, predicting political blowback if payments are interrupted.

“I think many people throughout the country are going to start bringing a lot of heat to members of Congress who have been facilitating, supporting, aiding and abetting the breaking of their Social Security and the interruption of benefits that they work their whole lives to earn,” O’Malley told CNBC in March.