The Social Security Administration Is Gutting Regional Staff and Shifting All Public Communications to X

[Nevilledog]

https://www.wired.com/story/social-security-administration-regional-office-elon-musk-x/

No paywall
https://archive.li/zHuSx

The Social Security Administration will no longer be communicating with the media and the public through press releases and “dear colleague” letters, as it shifts its public communication exclusively to X, sources tell WIRED. The news comes amid major staffing cuts at the agency.

“We are no longer planning to issue press releases or those dear colleague letters to inform the media and public about programmatic and service changes,” said SSA regional commissioner Linda Kerr-Davis in a meeting with managers earlier this week. “Instead, the agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public…so this will become our communication mechanism.”

Previously, the agency used dear colleague letters to engage with advocacy groups and third-party organizations that help people access social security benefits. Recent letters covered everything from the agency’s new identity verification procedures to updates on the accuracy of SSA death records (“less than one-third of 1 percent are erroneously reported deaths that need to be corrected,” the agency wrote, in contrast to what Elon Musk claims).

The letters and press releases were also a crucial communications tool for SSA employees, who used them to stay up on agency news. Since SSA staff cannot sign up for social media on government computers without submitting a special security request, the change could have negative consequences on the ability for employees to do their jobs.

*snip*

[yellow dahlia]

1. And the hits just keep coming. We can barely address one assault, and it is followed by another.

But I guess we know - that is the point.

I was (literally) just on the phone w/ City Hall to determine if I needed a permit for a small protest I am trying to organize for next week. I guess we now have more topics for the verbage on our signs.

And how can it be legal for the communications of a govt agency to be farmed out to X? I don't use X. And no one should be forced to, including federal employees.

I just pummeled my keyboard while writing this. I am becoming one pissed off aging hippy chick.

[tetedur]

2. So Elon now controls the Social Security information.

There will be no truth coming out of that asshole's propaganda vehicle.

[Lovie777]

3. No proper nonfactual information will come-forth................

personal information will be exposed accompanying with chaos and harassment.

It will not work. Another way to kill SS.

[Basso8vb]

4. His lifeless body swinging from a light pole will happen sooner than later.

He has no idea the wrath he's creating.

[Initech]

5. Elon needs a one way trip to Mars on one of his shitty rockets now!

[dalton99a]

6. Kick

[surfered]

7. Hmmm...more conflict of interest and corruption. Despite Trump's first term pledge, the swamp is getting more swampy