For millions of Americans living with disabilities, applying for benefits can already be a lengthy and stressful process. Now, growing concerns surround sweeping workforce reductions at the Social Security Administration (SSA), with advocates warning that thousands of job cuts could make accessing vital support even more difficult.
The agency has eliminated more than 7,100 positions in what has been described as the largest workforce reduction in its history. Introduced as part of President Donald Trump's wider effort to streamline federal government operations, the cuts have reduced SSA staffing by more than 13 per cent while accelerating a shift towards online services, office consolidations and the use of artificial intelligence.
