(The Center Square) – U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of Arizona have signed a letter demanding that the U.S. Social Security Administration keep field offices open.
The letter to Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of the SSA, signed by more than 100 Congressional Democrats, notes that field offices “provide vital services” to Social Security recipients and adds that “beneficiaries need the opportunity to seek assistance” in person.
“Closing any of these field offices will make it harder for individuals to access their benefits,” the letter states.
The legislators included a detailed list of all SSA field offices nationwide and asked Dudek whether he would keep them open.
“Given SSA’s recent attempts to close field offices—only to reverse course after public outcry and claim it never had plans to close offices—will you commit to keeping each one of these offices open?” the legislators asked. “If not, please identify which offices you will close and why.”
On March 27, SSA issued a news release dismissing media reports that it is permanently closing local field offices. SSA called those reports “false,” adding that the agency has “not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office.” SSA did state that a hearing office in White Plains, New York, has been announced for closure.
“SSA is committed to providing service where people need help and our local field offices are no exception,” Dudek said in a news release last month. “We have not permanently closed any local field offices this year.”
SSA acknowledged that it had “identified for the General Services Administration underutilized office space” to ensure taxpayer money was being spent wisely. The agency said it provided GSA with a list of sites for termination. According to SSA, most locations are “small hearing rooms with no assigned employees,” because most hearings are held virtually, SSA said it “no longer needs these underutilized rooms.”
The legislators’ letter to Dudek lists 14 SSA field offices, including offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale, Mesa and Flagstaff.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton of Arizona did not sign the letter.
Stanton’s office confirmed that he is not among the signers. However, his office told The Center Square that the representative signed a letter to Dudek in March, urging him to halt field office closures and staffing reductions.
A staffer also told The Center Square that Stanton is backing the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act.
Introduced by U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut, last month, the bill promises to “stop the Trump Administration from closing any Social Security Administration field and hearing office” for the duration of the Trump administration. It imposes a moratorium on Social Security field and hearing office closures until Jan. 21, 2029, one full day after President Donald Trump’s second term ends.
After the moratorium ends, the legislation requires the commissioner to maintain the total number of offices in operation on Jan. 20, 2025.
