Ossoff, Warnock fight closure of Social Security offices in Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. - Five Social Security istration offices in Georgia are set to close as part of the Trump istration’s efforts to slash the size of the federal government – and Georgia’s two U.S. senators aren’t happy about it.
Sen. Jon Ossoff said at a virtual new conference Tuesday that the Trump istration’s closure of offices in Georgia risks seniors’ access to Social Security.
“I am demanding that the Trump istration reverse course and abandon these cuts to access to Social Security for seniors in Georgia,” he said. “The DOGE website, Elon Musk’s website, currently lists Social Security offices in Columbus, Gainesville, Vidalia, Brunswick and Thomasville for closure. These are cuts to access to Social Security for Georgia seniors. Seniors in Georgia rely on Social Security offices to apply for benefits, to get a new Social Security card, to appeal a denial of benefits, to apply for Medicare eligibility.”
He added: “This isn’t a handout. These are benefits that seniors have paid for throughout their careers, and when you cut access to Social Security, you directly hurt seniors in Georgia.”
Fellow Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock condemned the planned closures last week.
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The layoffs are part of the Trump istration’s intensified efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by President Donald Trump’s adviser Elon Musk.
According to Warnock, Georgia “has the highest number of SSA offices closed for any state so far.”
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In a statement, Warnock said Social Security provides a baseline of and stability for millions of Georgians, and ensures that Georgia seniors, “who’ve spent decades paying into the program, can afford rent, groceries, and medication.”
Warnock said closing the five Social Security offices “will make it harder for Georgia seniors, especially in rural areas, to enroll in the program, solve payment issues, report fraud, and more.”
“As I have said before, I am all for cutting government waste and abuse, but never at the expense of hardworking Georgians, especially our retired seniors,” Warnock goes on to say. “On the Senate Aging Committee, I’ve worked to protect Georgians from bad actors looking to take advantage of seniors, and this is no different. The closure of these offices will make it significantly harder for Georgians to get access to their benefits or talk through an often confusing bureaucratic system.
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Anoversight letter closes with a series of questions for Secretary Hegseth, seeking clarity on how investment decisions are made for on-post food service operations, answers on how DOD will improve quality and nutrition of food, and more. they paid for and rely on to live safe, healthy lives.”
Also in the news ...
Warnock on Tuesday led a bipartisan, bicameral oversight effort demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding issues in providing service adequate and healthy food on military installations.
The new oversight effort follows recent reporting on issues with food quality and access at several Army installations’ dining facilities.
Warnock and the lawmakers are expressing their concerns over underinvestment in food options for of the military, which has a direct relation to military readiness and retention rates.
An oversight letter closes with a series of questions for Secretary Hegseth, seeking clarity on how investment decisions are made for on-post food service operations, answers on how the Department of Defense will improve quality and nutrition of food, and more.
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