The real answer: it depends. My sense is new admin will target regulatory agencies first (FDA, FCC, EPA), and mostly likely the IRS. Apart from the IRS, large cuts in federal workforce for these agencies will not have an impact on the average American in the next two years.
SSA is not top of mind for Elon and the project 2025 crew. And anyone with half a brain should know SSA/Medicare benefits are a third rail that cannot be significantly altered without massive political blowback. The risk/reward of degrading SSA as an customer facing agency is also not great.
That being said, we are dealing with unpredictable accelerationists, who are putting on a populist cloak in pursuit of an astoundingly regressive agenda (tea party on steroids). It is truly baffling to see working class people worshiping billionaire's like Elon, who are open about cutting entitlements, and implementing the largest austerity program in US history.
We’re long past the phase in which cuts to SSA programs are the third rail. We’re now in the phase where everyone assumes it won’t be there for them by the time they retire, or that they’ll already be dead by the time their benefits get cut, so why not let Elon and Trump destroy it all for the lulz? Especially if you get to watch them bully some ”queers“ and ”illegals“ in the process!
Executive Orders on federal sector bargaining units are likely to be renewed immediately, and survive challenge this time around. Return to offices looks likely under DOGE. As far as mass layoffs, that seems unlikely. But SSA has thousands of useless staff, at the GS-14, GS-15, and SES levels, who wouldn't be missed. Too many layers of management, poor leadership, and outdated computer systems don't help efficiency.
The only thing that (hopefully) saves SSA is that 96% of SSA employees are covered by AFGE and the Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn't end until 2029 The Republicans see the Return to Office as the final blow to kill SSA. After 30 years of tiny cuts (increases not matching inflation/workload), the Republicans recognize that a Return to Office will drive off a significant number of SSA's employees and cause the agency to collapse.
5 comments:
The real answer: it depends. My sense is new admin will target regulatory agencies first (FDA, FCC, EPA), and mostly likely the IRS. Apart from the IRS, large cuts in federal workforce for these agencies will not have an impact on the average American in the next two years.
SSA is not top of mind for Elon and the project 2025 crew. And anyone with half a brain should know SSA/Medicare benefits are a third rail that cannot be significantly altered without massive political blowback. The risk/reward of degrading SSA as an customer facing agency is also not great.
That being said, we are dealing with unpredictable accelerationists, who are putting on a populist cloak in pursuit of an astoundingly regressive agenda (tea party on steroids). It is truly baffling to see working class people worshiping billionaire's like Elon, who are open about cutting entitlements, and implementing the largest austerity program in US history.
We’re long past the phase in which cuts to SSA programs are the third rail. We’re now in the phase where everyone assumes it won’t be there for them by the time they retire, or that they’ll already be dead by the time their benefits get cut, so why not let Elon and Trump destroy it all for the lulz? Especially if you get to watch them bully some ”queers“ and ”illegals“ in the process!
Executive Orders on federal sector bargaining units are likely to be renewed immediately, and survive challenge this time around. Return to offices looks likely under DOGE. As far as mass layoffs, that seems unlikely. But SSA has thousands of useless staff, at the GS-14, GS-15, and SES levels, who wouldn't be missed. Too many layers of management, poor leadership, and outdated computer systems don't help efficiency.
The only thing that (hopefully) saves SSA is that 96% of SSA employees are covered by AFGE and the Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn't end until 2029 The Republicans see the Return to Office as the final blow to kill SSA. After 30 years of tiny cuts (increases not matching inflation/workload), the Republicans recognize that a Return to Office will drive off a significant number of SSA's employees and cause the agency to collapse.
Major sh*t show next year. Not only actions upon government but also tariffs and deportation economics. A perfect storm if everything implemented.
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