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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Hit Hardest by Trump's Major Social Security Change
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Social Security Administration's more than 1,200 local field offices have been affected by the Department of Government Efficiency's cuts to federal agencies this year, which experts say will likely cause delays for Americans applying for benefits and beneficiaries looking to replace identification cards or get answers to more complex questions. A new report from the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) that ranked states by the number of cuts in SSA field office workers found that some areas experienced far greater percentage declines than others. Since the announced cuts, 46 states have lost field office staff, with more than 30 percent of field offices losing at least 10 percent of their staff. Why It Matters Social Security's local field offices serve more than 119,000 visitors daily, according to the SOC. In February of this year, the Trump administration announced it would be cutting 12 percent of the SSA's workforce, culminating in roughly 7,000 job losses, by the end of fiscal year 2025. What To Know The top five most impacted states from March 2024 to March 2025 were Wyoming (17 percent cut in field office workers), Montana (14 percent), West Virginia (11 percent), Hawaii (11 percent) and New Mexico (10 percent). "What's surprising is the correlation between population density and the states with double-digit declines in SSA field office workers," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "Sure, you could argue that fewer workers simply would lead to a more significant reduction in staffing given the smaller numbers, but when you look closer, many of these states also have an older population—median ages north of 39—places like New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana. That means the very people who depend most on these services are in the areas losing the most staff." Field office cuts were particularly alarming if they occurred in rural states or areas with a large amount of rural land, the SOC said. Because residents there are less likely to have computer access or reliable internet, Wyoming and Montana residents could face substantially longer drives to get to their local office and would likely require more in-person services. Meanwhile, some of the top five states also have higher rates of disability, including West Virginia, which has the highest disability rate in the country, with New Mexico and Montana in the top 10. A Social Security Administration office in Washington, D.C. A Social Security Administration office in Washington, D.C. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "Many of these states have fewer people spread out over larger areas. Add in the SSA's push toward technology and automation, and headcounts in certain offices are going to drop as they modernize. For rural areas, the impact will be immediate. People who once had an office in town might now have to travel to the nearest major city or even the state capital just to get basic answers." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "It's important to note in some states, the number of employees for the administration in the field are already low, and cutting them further could delay support to some beneficiaries. Government efficiency is obviously important, but as a larger size of the population enters retirement and qualifies for benefits, there will be more demand for services Social Security provides." What Happens Next As of March 2025, the SSA employed 20,593 field office workers, a 5 percent decrease of field office staff from March 2024, when the agency employed 21,627 employees. "For the disabled, that's a huge barrier," Thompson said. "These communities already have limited access. This just makes it worse, forcing people to make real-life decisions about whether they can even afford the time, cost, and effort to get the help they need."
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Video Shows Car Stuck in Floodwaters After City 'Smashed' Rainfall Record
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A series of powerful thunderstorms swept through Omaha, Nebraska, on Thursday, bringing torrential rain that overwhelmed drainage systems, flooded streets and left vehicles stranded. A video shared by AccuWeather on X, formerly Twitter, captured the dramatic moment a car became stuck in deep floodwaters after the city shattered its daily rainfall record by .8 inches. Why It Matters The rainfall marked a pivotal change for Omaha, which had been nearly 2.5 inches below its average annual precipitation prior to the storm, according to local news station WOWT. The city recorded about 2.54 inches of rain on April 24 alone, pushing yearly totals back to normal. However, the rapid accumulation strained stormwater systems, with flash flooding reported in multiple neighborhoods, including Saddle Creek and the intersections of 50th and Center streets. The floods disrupted traffic and stranded vehicles. Other parts of eastern Nebraska, such as Bellevue and Lincoln, received far less rain and remain below average for the year, highlighting the uneven impact of the storms. What To Know The video shared on X by AccuWeather shows flooded Omaha streets. On one street, a car was submerged in floodwaters up to its taillights. Despite this, a truck attempts to drive down the flooded street. "Omaha smashed its daily rainfall record yesterday with 2.54 inches, drenching the previous 2007 record of 1.72 inches," AccuWeather posted with the video. You can't go that way! 🌧️💦 Omaha smashed its daily rainfall record yesterday with 2.54 inches, drenching the previous 2007 record of 1.72 inches. — AccuWeather (@accuweather) April 25, 2025 A daily rainfall record occurs when an area records the most rainfall experienced on a particular date. Thursday's storms brought not just rainfall but also severe hail to some Omaha neighborhoods, local news station KETV reported. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Katie Gross, who works at the Omaha office, told Newsweek that Omaha isn't expecting any more heavy rain on Friday. Some light showers could move through the area on Saturday. Any flooding caused by Thursday's heavy rain has receded, Gross said. A Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by other NWS offices warned that some parts of Nebraska remain at risk of further heavy rain and isolated flooding through the weekend. A stock image shows a car driving through a flooded street. A stock image shows a car driving through a flooded street. maradek/Getty What People Are Saying Speaking about the heavy rain, NWS meteorologist Katie Gross told Newsweek: "It's not completely unheard of. We do get some heavy downpours, especially with thunderstorms like we had yesterday, but it was quite a bit of rain in a little bit of time. But it's not totally out of the ordinary for this time of year." NWS office in North Platte, Nebraska, in a hazardous weather outlook: "Scattered showers and a few embedded thunderstorms are possible across western Nebraska this afternoon into the evening. While any showers or thunderstorms will be capable of producing gusty and erratic winds, severe weather is not expected." What Happens Next? The NWS continues to caution residents about the potential for further rain in the coming days, although more torrential rain isn't expected for Omaha. Communities like Lincoln and Bellevue, which received less rain, are expected to continue facing drought risks unless further precipitation arrives.
