Maine Social Security Workers & Retirees Warn DOGE Cuts Will Jeopardize Delivery of Benefits
Photo: Christine Lizotte, Kathy Davis & Ray Thompkins
HALLOWELL — Maine retirees and Social Security Administration employees, members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1164, are calling on Maine’s Congressional delegation to halt planned cuts to the Social Security Administration, cancel plans to potentially close an office in Presque Isle and protect Social Security. Social Security Administration employees warned that the proposed cuts will harm the delivery of benefits to Maine people.
Billionaire Elon Musk and his DOGE team plan to eliminate at least 7,000 employees, 12 percent of the workforce, who process and provide Social Security benefits. These cuts are coming at a time when staffing is at its lowest level in 50 years and workloads are higher than ever. DOGE is also seeking to close or sell Social Security offices around the country, including the Presque Isle office, which could mean Aroostook County residents would have to travel several hours to the nearest office in Bangor.
“Social Security is a critical safety net program for elderly Americans and people with disabilities. It is an earned benefit that we have paid into through a lifetime of toil,” said Christine Lizotte, a claims specialist and Secretary Treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1164. “More than 70 million people receive Social Security benefits, including over 355,000 Mainers. That’s why we are greatly concerned that the DOGE team is pressuring the administration to make deep cuts in staff, that will delay payments, cause more errors and could even crash the whole system within months."
Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley has advised current beneficiaries to consider setting aside some extra money in case payments are delayed and has warned that planned cuts could “collapse” the Social Security system “within the next 30 to 90 days.” DOGE has also been pressuring employees to take buyout offers and has implemented a hiring freeze leaving employees to shoulder more of the work burden and making it more difficult to process benefits in a timely manner.
Sophie Chan
“Due to understaffing, we have less and less time to process, pay people and release back payments and early installments to people who really need it. This is money our applicants can use to make house payments and rent, pay off debts and cover utilities, groceries, heating and other basic necessities,” said Sophie Chan, a technical expert who works out of the Saco Social Security office. “The DOGE plans to slash the workforce at the Social Security Administration and close offices will jeopardize our ability to process, approve and pay out benefits to 73 million Americans, including over 355,000 Mainers. We call on the President and Congress to strengthen Social Security, not defund it.”
“I am very disturbed by the prospect of DOGE pushing for staff cuts to the Social Security Administration. Our staff at the Rockland and Waterville offices are already supporting the Augusta office because they are understaffed,” said Ray Thompkins of Rockland, a military veteran and claims specialist who works at the Rockland Social Security office. “Closing the office in Presque Isle would be a severe hardship for Mainers, especially for those who can’t drive. It’s a very stressful time because every day we’re getting emails from Washington DC trying to push us out the door. This is not the time to be cutting this critical life line to millions of people. We need to properly fund the Social Security Administration and strengthen it for generations of Americans to come.”
Social Security is the backbone of the US retirement system for working class Americans, enjoying overwhelming bipartisan support. Without it, 22 million of adults and children would fall into poverty.
“As retirees, my husband and I, collectively, paid into the Social Security and Medicare programs for over 95 working years,” said Cecile Martin of South Twin Lake , a retired Emergency Room Nurse. “Neither of us received pensions from our collective employers. Self funded retirement programs like Roth IRAs, 401k and 403b programs were not available to us until later in our lives, therefore, the guarantee of social security benefits is the cornerstone of our retirement income. Like so many other seniors, we are not free of debt. We still make monthly mortgage payments, pay property and income taxes, and have all the usual payments facing everyday Americans. We continue to follow a strict budget and we worry about the constant battles in Washington over the very program that allows us to remain independent and able to balance our checkbook each month. We need our elected officials committed to stop these cuts and safeguard Social Security.”
“For over forty-six years, I paid into Social Security with the understanding that it would be there for me when I retired. I receive less than $2000 a month so I’m not living high on the hog,” said Kathy Davis of Lewiston, a Social Security beneficiary who paid into the system for over 46 years. “Without Social Security I would be out on the street, I would not be able to pay my taxes or pay for food, utilities, insurance or gas for car. I’ve had lupus, diabetes and cancer and I can’t go back to work. I want our Representatives and Senators to stand up and do their jobs. They cannot cower to political pressure. We’re not talking about numbers. We’re talking about people’s lives.”