The Social Security Administration (SSA) is facing serious scrutiny after revelations that its Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs (OLCA) has been cut drastically—from approximately 50 employees to just three.
This dramatic reduction, roughly 94%, threatens the office’s ability to respond to Congress and constituents, at a time when over 70 million Americans depend on Social Security benefits. Here’s what’s changed, why it matters, and what impact beneficiaries may face.
What Is OLCA and What Does It Do?
The Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs (OLCA) plays key roles including:
- Acting as a liaison between Congress, agency leadership, and the public – helping lawmakers understand Social Security legislation and constituent issues
- Preparing SSA officials for testimony before Congress, coordinating regulatory proposals, legislative summaries, and assisting with inquiries from Congressional staffers.
The Staff Cut: From 50 to 3
| Metric | Before Reductions | After Reductions | Percentage Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLCA Staff Count | ~ 50 employees | 3 employees | ~ 94% |
| Key Tasks Remaining | Full slate: constituent casework, legislation drafting, inquiries | Same tasks spread thinly; much reassigned internally | N/A |
| Timeline of Reduced Staffing | Staff warned early 2025; reassignment and separations over first half of 2025 | By April 2025, very few remained | N/A |
- In February 2025, employees in OLCA were told to consider reassignment or voluntary separation.
- By April 2025, after departures and reassignments, the office had dwindled to three staff. Two of the remaining three employees were brought in from other offices.
Why This Reduction Matters
- Constituent Services Delayed or Blocked: Congressional offices report “bounce-back emails” or no replies from SSA legislative liaison offices. Issues that used to be addressed swiftly may now get delayed.
- Legislative and Regulatory Oversight at Risk: With far fewer staff, preparing SSA officials for testimony, drafting legislation, and responding to inquiries may suffer. Lawmakers rely on OLCA to surface systemic problems.
- Increased Burden on Field Offices and Other Divisions: Some responsibilities have been reassigned elsewhere inside SSA. Other divisions already stretched may now absorb more work. Field offices and offices dealing with beneficiary services may see delays.
SSA Workforce and Broader Staffing Changes
- SSA has been implementing an agency-wide effort to streamline and reduce staff under suits like Voluntary Early Retirement (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP).
- The agency set a target to reduce its total workforce from around 57,000 to 50,000 employees.
- Approximately 7,000 positions are expected to be eliminated under these plans.
What SSA Says in Response
- SSA states that legislative affairs work continues across the agency, including field offices. OLCA’s downsized staff are working with reassignments and mentorship from others.
- A spokesperson for SSA said that Commissioner Frank Bisignano “pledged to have the right level of staffing to deliver best-in-class customer service.”
Potential Impacts for Beneficiaries
- Slower responses to inquiries directed through Congressional offices.
- Delays in identifying and fixing systemic issues reported by multiple constituents.
- Reduced capacity for SSA to help lawmakers with oversight, which may affect future lawmaking or reforms.
- Local field offices may face higher workloads if constituent cases escalate.
The over 94% cut in staff in the SSA’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs is a major concern, especially when considering that millions of individuals rely on Social Security for income and stability.
While some responsibilities have been redistributed, the sheer scale of reductions raises questions about the SSA’s ability to maintain service levels, respond to congressional inquiries, and support beneficiaries effectively.
As changes continue, clarity from SSA, and oversight from legislators, will be essential to determine whether cost savings have come at too high a cost to service and accountability.
FAQs
What exactly is the OLCA?
The Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs is the SSA division that liaises with Congress, helps with drafting legislation and regulations, handles constituent casework via congressional inquiries, and provides technical and procedural expertise.
How many people depended on OLCA before the cuts?
Will this lead to skipped Social Security payments or benefit losses for recipients?
There’s no indication benefits will be skipped. The issue is more about delays in communications, responses via congressional offices, and possibly slower legislative or regulatory work—not about cutting actual payments.
