Rep. Gabe Vasquez Condemns Attacks on Social Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) condemned the Trump Administration's reckless assault on the Social Security Administration (SSA), warning that mass layoffs and service cuts will devastate seniors and working families across New Mexico and the country, particularly seniors in rural communities.

Under Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the administration has proposed firing thousands of SSA employees, closing field offices, and not allowing seniors to access services over the phone, making it harder for seniors and people with disabilities to access the benefits they've earned. These cuts come despite strong bipartisan support for strengthening Social Security.

"Social Security isn't a handout-it's a promise we've made to every American who has paid into the system," said Vasquez. "Yet, Trump and Musk are gutting the agency, leaving seniors and vulnerable communities stranded. This isn't about 'efficiency'-it's about dismantling a program that millions rely on."

Vasquez's office has received multiple calls from seniors concerned about the Las Cruces social security office closed and potential barricades.

A Manufactured Crisis

The administration's latest move requires seniors to come in person to apply for or update their benefits. This could bar people who qualify for Social Security from applying, including people with disabilities, seniors in rural areas, and people who do not have internet access. At the same time, Musk has publicly called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," while the administration falsely claims that widespread fraud is draining the program.

"Seniors in New Mexico rely on Social Security to pay for health care and medication, pay their rent, and put food on the table. Trump and Musk want to destroy Social Security because as billionaires, they're completely out of touch with the struggles New Mexico's seniors face to make ends meet," said Vasquez. "I will not let them fund a tax cut for billionaires on the backs of seniors, the disabled, and the working class."

Impact on New Mexico and Rural America

The proposed cuts would hit rural communities hardest, where SSA field offices already struggle with long wait times and limited staff. In New Mexico's Second District alone, thousands of seniors rely on in-person SSA services to receive their benefits, appeal wrongful denials, or update their records.

Holding the Administration Accountable

In early March, Vasquez led House Democrats in urging the administration to end its harmful assault on the SSA and reverse its decision to close field offices and lay off more than 7,000 workers.

Now, furthering this advocacy, Vasquez is demanding that Acting Administrator Dudek abandon his misguided policy that forces seniors and disabled New Mexicans to enroll online or in person at the very field offices the administration is trying to shut down - rather than allowing them to enroll over the phone. This policy does nothing to reduce fraud or save taxpayer money. Instead, it serves as a de facto benefit cut, making it harder for New Mexicans to access the Social Security benefits they have earned and rely on.

You can read Rep. Vasquez's oversight letter here. The full letter is below:

Dear Acting Commissioner Dudek,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to recent changes by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that are making it more difficult for seniors and other beneficiaries in New Mexico to receive the benefits they have earned. Despite strong bipartisan support for Social Security, these indiscriminate staffing cuts, office closures, and ending phone services will cut off seniors from their benefits. I urge you to immediately reverse course and instead work to strengthen Social Security and fulfill the promises made to seniors.

At the direction of Elon Musk, who has called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," the SSA announced that it would cut nearly 7,000 jobs and close multiple field offices this year. These indiscriminate cuts have already raised concerns about delayed benefits and increased errors - the opposite of increasing efficiency. Additionally, the SSA recently announced that it is ending phone verification services for new applications, despite no reports of widespread fraud or abuse. These changes are forcing seniors to travel long distances in person just to access their guaranteed benefits. It is unconscionable that, while SSA demands more in-person visits, it is simultaneously cutting staff and closing offices, making it nearly impossible for seniors to receive the support they've earned through a lifetime of hard work.

Across New Mexico, Social Security is the difference between dignity and despair. Over 365,000 New Mexico seniors rely on these benefits to pay for food, rent, and medication. Shrinking the SSA workforce will further erode already strained customer service and delay benefits when seniors in my district already face hours-long phone wait times. The new identity verification rules, which will add up to 85,000 additional weekly visitors to field offices, will only worsen delays - especially in rural areas where in-person access is limited. Downsizing staff while increasing in-person requirements is a recipe for disaster. For seniors in rural areas, this is an assault on their financial security.

Social Security is a promise, one that must not be broken or eroded through administrative neglect. I urge you to immediately halt workforce reductions and office closures and reconsider the in-person verification rule. Instead, I call on you to expand in-person services, invest in rural field offices, and ensure that seniors and all beneficiaries have access to timely, effective support.

###