Payam Javan: The Social Security Administration (SSA) unveiled a series of initiatives on March 24, 2025, aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency under the Trump administration. These measures include recording and publishing weekly operational meetings on YouTube, optimizing real estate by terminating 64 leases to save over $4 million annually, reducing staff through voluntary separations and a draft Reduction-in-Force plan, and improving identity verification for beneficiaries. The SSA is also providing transparent data on national 800-number wait times and releasing detailed decision-making records on its “Agency Actions” webpage, aligning with President Trump’s push for accountable governance, as emphasized by Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek.

However, the SSA’s collaboration with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hit a snag when a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) last week, barring DOGE from accessing SSA’s personal data due to privacy concerns. The ruling followed accusations of DOGE conducting a “fishing expedition” to uncover fraud, prompting a response from Dudek, who briefly considered shutting down the agency but later confirmed operations would continue under the TRO. Meanwhile, efforts to correct outdated records—such as beneficiaries listed as over 120 years old—show progress, though the court’s decision has sparked debate over balancing efficiency with privacy rights.