Congresswoman Veronica Escobar Demands Transparency from the SSA

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar is urgently seeking clarity regarding the difficulty U.S. citizens are encountering while trying to avail their Social Security entitlements. Joined by 31 fellow Democratic representatives from the House, Escobar approached the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Frank Bisignano, via a letter to express their collective apprehensions about alterations to the Social Security program. These changes, spearheaded by the former Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have resulted in several citizens being unable to access their rightfully earned benefits.

In their letter to the SSA Commissioner, the representatives detailed the serious consequences of the Trump-led administrative changes. These measures, they stated, led to significant deductions in federal staffing levels and triggered a comprehensive workforce reshuffle. The Department of Government Efficiency appears to bear the responsibility for these drastic actions, which have forced about 7,000 SSA employees to either be proposed for removal or voluntarily leave their positions since the onset of the year.

Among the outcomes of the DOGE-led workforce changes was the unexplained removal of crucial data from the public facing SSA performance dashboard. Though some of this removed information has since been reinstated online, key indicators including current callback wait times and processing times seem to have been permanently scrapped. Consequently, the overall transparency and efficiency of the Social Security program’s functioning appear to be at risk.

Moreover, it was noted in the letter that the personnel changes instigated by DOGE seem to have had a broad impact on the SSA’s operations. A significant consequence has been that the workforce required to answer incoming calls to SSA’s general inquiry line has reportedly been shifted from their primary roles at the field offices. This action has hindered them from performing their vital duties and abiding by the terms of their collective bargaining agreements.

A look at the statistics reveals that Representative Escobar’s 16th Congressional District of El Paso houses around 132,000 recipients of Social Security benefits. An overwhelming majority, approximately 100,000, of these recipients are seniors aged 65 and above. This points towards a compelling need for a fully functional and efficient SSA in this area.

The implications of these issues are likely to be far-reaching, given the district’s current political context. Escobar’s congressional district finds itself in the crosshairs of Governor Greg Abbott, who seems to be acquiescing to a request from Trump to revise the boundary lines of congressional districts in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections.

In light of these developments, the Democratic representatives have requested Commissioner Bisignano to shed light on certain matters. Specifically, they demand answers to the following questions: Why was certain performance data removed from the SSA’s public dashboard? What measures are planned by the SSA to ensure the accuracy of the data displayed on this public dashboard?

Other pointed queries posed included: Why were not the current callback wait times and the processing times reinstated on the refreshed SSA dashboard? As observed on July 7, 2025, what’s the weekly rate at which Social Security claims are being processed, and how does this compare with the same metric for the previous couple of years?

The legislators’ list of enquiries also included the concern for senior citizens living in isolated rural areas or remotely, and other beneficiaries who could be affected in case of the termination of phone services by the SSA. They want to know what alternative avenues would be made available for these individuals to get their Social Security inquiries resolved.

This question becomes especially critical for those people who struggle with unreliable internet connections, also for whom AI and purely digital means would hurt instead of bolstering service. The representatives want to know what options will be available to these individuals.

Another pressing question asked by the representatives is about the SSA’s plans to deal with the prevalent understaffing issues in field offices and across the board. They are interested in learning what strategies the SSA is devising to tackle this significant dilemma.

The lawmakers finally asked if the SSA, in conjunction with the Trump administration, is ready to reverse policy decisions that have caused an increase in delays experienced by seniors while trying to access their benefits.

Their message to the SSA and the Trump administration was clear and poignant. Social Security, for almost a century, has been a revered commitment from America to its seniors. It’s not just an economic support system but also an invaluable lifeline and primary source of income for countless seniors nationwide.

That’s why ensuring access to Social Security benefits is a matter of critical importance. After all, regardless of their age, people should be confident that their hard-earned benefits are secure, accessible, dependable whenever they retire, or in unfortunate circumstances that render them disabled or result in their demise, ensuring their dependents are taken care of.