Last week, two Republican Senators broke from the GOP and President Donald Trump by voting in favor of an amendment aimed at reversing cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA) imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
This vote took place late Friday night as the Senate debated Trump’s multitrillion-dollar tax cuts and spending framework.
Why It Matters?
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, the DOGE task force has carried out significant budget and staffing reductions across federal agencies as part of the president’s effort to curb government spending.
The SSA, which serves about 70 million Americans with benefits, has not been exempt from these cuts. DOGE’s mandates have led to workforce reductions, the closure of internal departments, and changes to phone services.
What Happened?
On Friday, Republican Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both from Alaska, voted in favor of an amendment that sought to reverse “cuts to the Social Security Administration, including those mandated by the Department of Government Efficiency or any other cuts to seniors’ services.” The amendment ultimately failed, passing with a 50-49 vote.
The amendment was proposed by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia and co-sponsored by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. After the vote, Warnock expressed disappointment on social media, emphasizing his commitment to protecting the benefits of Georgia’s seniors.
The Senate later passed the budget resolution, which aims to make the tax cuts from Trump’s first term permanent. It also authorizes an additional $1.5 trillion in tax cuts and proposes raising the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion.
Concerns in Alaska Over DOGE Cuts
In Alaska, concerns have emerged following the SSA’s announcement that it will end phone-based identity verification services, a change that occurred after DOGE began overseeing the agency in February.
Starting April 14, many claimants, except for those applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income, will no longer be able to verify their identity by phone when making new benefit claims or changing direct deposit information.
Instead, they will need to visit one of the state’s three SSA offices in person.
This shift is particularly challenging for Alaskan residents, as the state’s vast size and remote areas make in-person visits difficult.
Teresa Holt, Alaska’s AARP director, criticized the decision, calling it an unnecessary barrier for older Americans to access the benefits they’ve earned. As of December 2023, about 115,000 people in Alaska were receiving SSA benefits.
What’s Being Said?
Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed her support for Trump’s tax cuts on social media following the vote, but acknowledged the serious concerns within the resolution, stating that it marks the beginning of a process rather than its conclusion.
Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of the SSA, defended the DOGE initiative in a February press release, emphasizing that it is part of Trump’s broader effort to reduce fraud, waste, and improve government operations to better serve the public.
What’s Next?
With the amendment failing, the cuts imposed by DOGE on the SSA will remain in place.
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