Since President Trump returned to office last month, there has been quite a bit of speculation and misinformation about what policies he might institute that would affect Social Security disability.
So far, nothing has changed in terms of payments or general operation of the disability system – though there are some signs that changes could be on the horizon.
On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly said that he would not cut Social Security benefits. And in his first term, the disability program was largely untouched.
However, Trump has now appointed billionaire Elon Musk as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to downsize the federal government and look for waste. Musk has stated on his X platform that he believes there is massive waste in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
While Musk and DOGE have not yet turned their eyes toward the Social Security Administration, it’s certainly possible that they could begin examining the operations of Social Security disability more closely in the coming months. If that happens, the changes that could be implemented are anyone’s guess, whether that might mean some disabled people could lose benefits, or the program could be completely overhauled.
A more pressing issue for Social Security is the Trump administration’s buyout offer to federal employees. While the legality of this offer is currently being evaluated by the courts, the Social Security disability system, which often makes claimants wait years for decisions, could be further strained if a large number of SSA employees elect to take a buyout.
