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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley has warned that the Trump administration's proposed changes to the Social Security Administration (SSA) could lead to missed payments and the collapse of the system.
"We are already seeing service timelines skyrocket, but then you're going to see intermittent interruptions of the processing and claim system. Ultimately, an interruption in benefits," O'Malley told WPXI in Pittsburgh. "The agency and the hardworking people up there at Woodlawn pride themselves on the fact that they've never missed a payment in 90 years.
"But what's the effect of missing the benefits? Half of all seniors who are living alone depend entirely upon that Social Security payment to keep them out of poverty."
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Why It Matters
More than 70 million people in the U.S. rely on Social Security benefits, including retirees and individuals with disabilities—some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Concerns have arisen following the Republican-approved budget blueprint in Congress and DOGE's proposed reductions to the SSA, the agency responsible for administering the program.
What To Know
O'Malley, a former Baltimore mayor, Maryland governor and Democratic presidential candidate, spoke with WPXI on Thursday as the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency target the agency he once led.
O'Malley said former employees are expressing anger and shock, feeling betrayed by the organization they dedicated their lives to serving.
O'Malley warned that the administration's plan to cut 7,000 jobs would lead to the loss of "an enormous amount of knowledge and expertise that goes into making Social Security run."
Social Security payments are funded through a dedicated payroll tax collected from workers. Any surplus is stored in two trust funds: the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance Trust Fund.
According to the SSA's 2024 Trustees Report, these trust funds are expected to be depleted by 2035. Without congressional action to address the shortfall, beneficiaries may receive only 83 percent of their full benefits at that time.
In an appearance on Fox News on February 18, Trump told Sean Hannity that "Social Security won't be touched, other than if there's fraud or something. It's going to be strengthened. But it won't be touched."
What People Are Saying
Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley said: "They say they're going after fraud at SSA, but one of their very first actions within two days of being in office was to fire the inspector general, not only of the Social Security Administration, whose job it is to prosecute fraud, but he fired every one of those independent inspector generals. So this notion that somehow it's a pyramid scheme or a Ponzi scheme is disproved first by the fact that it's been going on for 90 years, second by the fact that every year they get a clean audit, unlike the Department of Defense."
Max Richtman, president and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, told Newsweek: "Former Commissioner O'Malley's warnings about potential missed Social Security payments (as the result of Trump and Musk's interference in the system) are completely warranted. The worst part is, there is no good reason to put Americans' Social Security benefits at risk. Trump, Musk, and DOGE are pillaging the Social Security Administration for supposed 'cost-savings.' Their real agenda, of course, is to dismantle Social Security from the inside so it can be cut and privatized. SSA is one of the most efficient federal agencies. With an overhead of less than 1 percent, and chronically underfunded by Congress, it is hardly a worthy target unless the point is to undermine Social Security itself."
Kevin Thompson, founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: "If Social Security were to fail, it could be the final straw for many Americans, leading to widespread distrust in the government's ability to manage essential programs. This would be a nightmare scenario, particularly for Republicans, as they push for fiscal responsibility while maintaining voter trust."
What Happens Next
As future SSA funding remains uncertain, the agency is experiencing significant changes under the administration as Trump's billionaire backer, Elon Musk, continues dissecting federal agencies.
Update, 3/9/25, 4:02 a.m.: This article was updated with comment from Max Richtman, president and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
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