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O'Malley: DOGE cuts could soon trigger Social Security system ‘collapse'

O'Malley: DOGE cuts could soon trigger Social Security system ‘collapse'

Yahoo03-03-2025

Martin O'Malley, the former commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), said Monday the recent cuts made by tech billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the agency could result in the 'collapse' of the Social Security system 'within the next 30 to 90 days.'
Malley, a Democrat who also served as Maryland governor from 2007-15, told CNBC the recent DOGE initiatives may jeopardize monthly benefit payments for over 72.5 million Americans.
He warned the current administration's attempts to reduce the workforce will lead to the departure of vital staff and threaten the agency's fundamental operations.
'Ultimately, you're going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits,' he said. 'I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days.'
Warning of these interruptions, Malley said, 'people should start saving now.'
Malley held the position of Social Security commissioner from December 2023 to November 2024 under the Biden administration.
More than 73 million individuals, including 56 million elderly people, depend on the agency for their monthly benefit payments. Delayed or missed payments could create difficulties for recipients.
Since its formation, DOGE has aimed to reduce expenditures within federal government agencies. These budget cuts have resulted in significant leadership changes, including the recent resignation of acting SSA Commissioner Michelle King, who reportedly stepped down due to a conflict regarding DOGE's access to confidential information.
Last week, the SSA notified employees of 'significant workforce reductions' on the way as it prepares for what it has called an 'agency-wide organizational restructuring' amid reports that thousands of workers could be let go.
The agency said offices that perform functions that aren't 'mandated by statute may be prioritized for reduction-in-force actions that could include abolishment of organizations and positions, directed reassignments, and reductions in staffing.'
Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek recently announced the agency will implement a substantial reorganization involving considerable workforce cuts, providing longer-serving employees the chance to opt for buyouts and early retirement programs.
The Hill reached out to the SSA for comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Marines arrive in LA under Trump orders as protests spread to other cities
Marines arrive in LA under Trump orders as protests spread to other cities

Yahoo

time29 minutes ago

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Marines arrive in LA under Trump orders as protests spread to other cities

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How viral images are shaping views of L.A.'s immigration showdown
How viral images are shaping views of L.A.'s immigration showdown

Yahoo

time33 minutes ago

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How viral images are shaping views of L.A.'s immigration showdown

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On YouTube, Damon Heller, who comments on police helicopter footage and scanner calls under the name Smoke N' Scan, streamed the clashes on Sunday for nearly 12 hours. Jeremy Lee Quinn, a photographer who shares protest footage to his social media followers, posted to Instagram on Saturday a video of protesters cheering from a bridge as officers tried to extinguish a burning police vehicle. Quinn, who also documented Black Lives Matter marches and the U.S. Capitol riots, said viewers on the left and right treat viral videos like weapons in their arsenal. Far-left viewers might take away from the videos ideas for militant tactics to use in future protests, he said, while far-right viewers will promote the videos to suggest the other side craves more violent crime. Either way, his material gets seen - including through reposts by groups such as the LibsOfReddit subreddit, which shares screenshots mocking liberal views on undocumented immigrants and transgender people. 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McDonald's Shares Slump as GLP-1 Risks Spur Rare Sell Rating
McDonald's Shares Slump as GLP-1 Risks Spur Rare Sell Rating

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

McDonald's Shares Slump as GLP-1 Risks Spur Rare Sell Rating

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