DOGE is flirting with the third rail of American politics — errors could lead to delayed or interrupted benefits, a former top Social Security staffer says

Elon Musk outside the White House after a weekend in Mar-a-Lago. (Credit: Samuel Corum—Getty Images)

• The Social Security Administration is laying off 12% of its workforce, and the loss of expertise, especially on key systems, could put benefits at risk as DOGE tries to look for fraud, according to a former staffer at the agency. 

Historically, toying with Social Security benefits has been long seen as a political “third rail,” meaning whoever touches it will get zapped.