A newly leaked memo reveals Donald Trump and Elon Musk have yet another plan to “break” Social Security and “derail” payments for millions of Americans, forcing longer wait times and causing “significant” payment disruptions — especially in rural areas. Trump and his shadow president are making it clear: They’re setting the groundwork to “eliminate” Americans’ hard-earned benefits like Social Security and Medicare all to fund tax breaks for their ultra-wealthy backers. 

Axios: “An internal memo from the Social Security Administration proposes changes to its phone service that could derail the benefits application process for many Americans. …

“The draft of the memo viewed by Axios says the proposed limitations will be ‘significant’ for those living in rural areas in particular. …

“The memo’s focus is on identity verification. Currently, if you are unable to verify your identity using their online system, you can complete the process by phone. … The identity verification changes would mean that people who previously could apply for, or update, benefits over the phone would have to travel to a local field office to do so. That presents many hurdles. …

“These changes, if implemented, would ‘cripple field office operations, and they’re already badly paralyzed,’ that former official told Axios …

“Forcing all those folks to come into a field office ‘would, in essence, break the agency.’ …

“The version of the memo ultimately sent to [acting commissioner Leland] Dudek acknowledges that ‘Service Disruption’ and ‘Operational Strain’ is ‘a risk and challenge’ of implementing this plan.

“There would be ‘increased field office traffic, longer call wait times and delayed processing,’ [acting deputy Social Security commissioner for operations Doris] Diaz writes.”

Washington Post: “Social Security and White House officials said the administration will still move ahead with another far more limited element of the original proposal: Customers will no longer be able to change a direct deposit routing number or other bank information by phone. …

“The changes — contemplated and enacted — threatened to disrupt Social Security’s internal operations and limit its ability to serve the public, current and former officials warned, just as DOGE is targeting the agency for across-the-board staff cuts of more than 12 percent. …

“The DOGE-driven proposal … would be likely to imperil millions of Americans’ ability to receive their earned benefits. The field office staff is already facing DOGE-directed depletions as the Trump administration moves to cut 7,000 jobs at the agency and eliminate numerous field offices.”

Axios: “DOGE is taking its wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration, the agency responsible for overseeing retirement and disability benefits for 73 million Americans.

“Why it matters: The cuts underway could wind up breaking critical parts of a system that millions of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens rely on, including nearly 90% of Americans over age 65. …

“The agency also announced plans to shutter six of 10 regional offices.

“DOGE has also gained access to crucial systems, packed with private data that Flick and others said the group doesn’t have the expertise to handle.”