OCEANSIDE — As the Department of Government Efficiency continues to cut across the federal government, North County residents are confused about the status of the Oceanside Social Security Administration office.
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Dana Point, was unsure about the office’s status on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Levin posted on the social media platform Threads that the Carlsbad, CA Social Security Office is not actually closed, but rather located in Oceanside, just across the border. “I am going to find out what is going on. “Hands off Social Security, Elon Musk!”
DOGE, led by billionaire SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, has spent the last few weeks slashing budgets across the federal government, leaving many employees unemployed or facing an uncertain future at President Donald Trump’s request.
On Wednesday, the SSA issued a statement that provided little information about the situation.
“We are working with GSA to review our leases and ensure they are being used efficiently,” a Social Security Administration spokesman told City News Service. “The majority of the leases we are not renewing are for small remote hearing sites that are co-located with other federal space.
“Since the majority of our hearings are held virtually, we no longer require as many in-person hearing locations. In fact, in FY24, 20% of these offices held no in-person hearings.
Other offices are not public-facing, are being consolidated into nearby locations, or were scheduled to close. “Social Security constantly monitors and evaluates the use of our office space to maximize efficiency for the American taxpayer,” the statement continued.
If the Oceanside office is indeed closed, North County residents can still visit an office in San Marcos, San Diego, and several other county locations.
The DOGE website includes a “Agency Efficiency Leaderboard,” which lists the agencies where the most money has allegedly been cut. However, the graphic provides almost no information about the amount and source of purported savings. The SSA is ranked ninth, with the Department of Education at number one.
The Social Security Administration is already facing significant staffing challenges. Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley testified before Congress last year, stating that the agency “will serve over 7 million more beneficiaries with about 7,000 fewer full-time permanent staff when compared to FY 2015,” by the end of Fiscal Year 2024.
Earlier this week, San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer criticized the Trump administration’s federal funding freezes for their impact on San Diego residents.
“San Diego County relies heavily on federal funds to provide essential public services. Lawson-Remer, acting chair of the Board of Supervisors, stated that these federal dollars represent taxes already paid by San Diegans and are intended to return to local communities.
“But now, these resources are being withheld, delayed, or disrupted by federal actions – jeopardizing essential services thousands of residents rely on every day.”
According to Matthew Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, the cuts are aimed at programs that advance a political or cultural agenda rather than serving taxpayers’ overall interests.
“The use of federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” the historian wrote.
The attorneys general of 23 Democratic-controlled states have sued Trump over the funding freeze.
“Without the timely disbursement of this funding, the Plaintiff States will be unable to provide these essential services for residents, pay public employees, satisfy obligations, and carry on the important business of government,” according to the lawsuit.
According to Lawson-Remer, the cuts include:
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency pausing disaster relief grants, including the Shelter and Services Program that provides emergency shelter for newly arrived migrants, placing more pressure on local shelter systems;
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issuing conflicting orders, causing confusion among health agencies and jeopardizing more than $30 million from the CDC earmarked for local health initiatives; and
- Pausing housing grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as removing entire sections of the HUD website used by public housing agencies.
Lawson-Remer warned that cuts were likely to occur to Medicaid (used by 900,000 county residents), CalFresh/SNAP (used locally by 400,000 people, 130,000 of whom are children), and housing voucher funding (which provides some rental assistance to several thousand people).
“This is not speculation. “This is happening right now,” Lawson-Remer explained. “Our goal is to be open with the public about what is at risk and to ensure that San Diego County is prepared.
We need clarity from Washington so that we can continue to provide essential services without interruption. The county will continue to advocate for our residents, but if federal leaders do not change course, San Diegans should expect service reductions.
