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Staffing levels at Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices have been falling across most of the United States, and the cuts are being felt most in rural states where in-person services are crucial.
According to federal workforce data, 46 states and Washington, D.C. lost field-office employees between March 2024 and March 2025.
Only Nebraska and Alaska recorded slight staffing increases. The SSA's overall workforce reduction, roughly 12 percent or 7,000 employees, is part of a broader cost-cutting initiative under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The states hit the hardest
The steepest staff reductions were recorded in:
- Wyoming - 17% fewer employees
- Montana - 14% cut
- West Virginia - 11% cut
- Hawaii - 11% cut
- New Mexico - 10% cut
These states often have large rural populations and fewer online resources, making in-person visits essential for many residents applying for benefits, replacing Social Security cards, or seeking assistance.
Rural communities face the greatest challenges
SSA field offices served more than 119,000 visitors daily in 2023, demonstrating their central role in connecting Americans to retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Cuts in staffing, combined with office closures, are leading to longer waits and reduced personal assistance, particularly in areas where internet access is limited.
To reduce costs, the SSA has offered buyouts, early retirements, and incentive packages to staff, with many of the departures concentrated in field offices. At the same time, the agency is expanding requirements for in-person identity verification and is preparing to close smaller offices in dozens of communities.
Leland Dudek, the SSA's acting commissioner, has argued that these changes are necessary to combat fraud, saying they are intended "to prevent the loss of more than $100 million a year from direct deposit fraud."
Pushback over service access
Advocacy groups warn the reductions could leave vulnerable populations, especially older adults and people with disabilities, without the help they need.
Unions representing SSA employees have filed lawsuits aimed at halting certain changes, arguing the cuts will cause chaos and disproportionately hurt rural communities.
Supporters of the policy counter that moving more services online will modernize the SSA and cut waste. However, critics say that without better digital infrastructure and outreach, the shift risks leaving millions behind.