Latest news with #Kerr-Davis
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What we know about claims Social Security Administration is moving all public communications to X
In April 2025, conflicting reports about changes in how the Social Security Administration communicates with the public spread confusion online. Per news reports, an SSA regional commissioner allegedly told employees it would be moving all communications to the social media platform X, including news releases and letters to employees. X is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, the public face of the Department of Government Efficiency, which was tasked by U.S. President Donald Trump with implementing cost-cutting measures in the federal government. Snopes readers asked whether it was true that all SSA communications would be moving to X. The subject was also discussed on X itself, where user posted: "Social Security Administration will be using X to communicate … All Americans ARE NOT on X and I'm not ok with my tax dollars being used this way!!!" The claim appeared to be based on news reports from Apr. 11, 2025. According to unnamed sources in a Wired report, Kansas City's SSA regional commissioner Linda Kerr-Davis told managers in a meeting: We are no longer planning to issue press releases or those dear colleague letters to inform the media and public about programmatic and service changes. […] Instead, the agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public […] so this will become our communication mechanism. The Federal News Network, a Washington, D.C., news organization that covers federal agencies, reported on the same call Kerr-Davis had with SSA employees. Per its report, she said: "If you're used to getting press releases and Dear Colleague letters, you might want to subscribe to the official SSA X account, so you can stay up to date with agency news. […] I know this probably sounds very foreign to you — it did to me as well — and not what we are used to, but we are in different times now." As both reports relied on unnamed sources, Snopes was unable to independently authenticate these statements attributed to Kerr-Davis. We reached out to the SSA, Kerr-Davis and the White House to learn more. The White House denied the reports. White House spokesperson Liz Hutton said in an email: "The Social Security Administration is actively communicating with beneficiaries and stakeholders through any and all mediums. President Trump will continue to always protect Social Security." The White House's communications team also posted on X in response to the Wired report: "This is absolutely false. Pure Fake News garbage from Wired." The SSA denied the rumors in a post on X as well, stating: "This is false. Social Security will continue to communicate through any and all mediums." The news reports referred to two different tools of communication: news releases and "Dear Colleague" letters. The SSA uses "Dear Colleague" letters to engage with third-party groups and organizations that help people access their Social Security benefits. The SSA describes the letters as "an opportunity to share information, ask for your help, and invite you to join us for various meetings and forums." The SSA posts these letters on its website. Currently, news releases and "Dear Colleague" letters are key communication tools for SSA employees and third-party organizations. The SSA account on X has only around 150,000 followers as of this writing, compared with the almost 72 million people who receive benefits from SSA programs. Unnamed SSA employees told Wired that by moving such communications over to X, vulnerable people who rely on their benefits would not get up-to-date information. As it stands, the SSA and White House have denied the reports about communications being moved to X. We have not observed major changes in the SSA's communication methods (the last news release was posted on the SSA website on Apr. 12, 2025, as of this writing). We will update this article should the situation change. "Advocates." SSA. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. "Social Security Kansas City Region Home Page." SSA, Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. "Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2024." Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis, Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Heckman, Jory. SSA Shifts to X Posts for Official Messaging after Cuts to Communications Staff. 11 Apr. 2025, Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Ibrahim, Nur. "Many Social Security Recipients Will Have to Confirm Identity in Person to Receive Benefits." Snopes, 26 Mar. 2025, Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Press Release | Press Office. SSA. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Rein, Lisa, and Hannah Natanson. "Social Security Abandons DOGE-Led Phone Service Cuts amid Chaos, Backlash." The Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2025, Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Rein, Lisa. "Social Security Faces Thousands More Job Cuts Even with Service in Tailspin." The Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2025, Accessed 15 Apr. 2025. Schiffer, Zoë. "The Social Security Administration Is Gutting Regional Staff and Shifting All Public Communications to X." Wired. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security to Move Comms to Musk's X After DOGE Cuts
That's one way to make the boss happy. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is cutting public affairs staffers at the Social Security Administration's regional offices and will move its communications to Elon Musk's X platform, WIRED and the Federal News Network reported Friday. That means the press and public will have to rely on X instead of press releases, emails, and regional public affairs staffers to receive updates or information about the administration. SSA staffers will also no longer send 'dear colleague' letters to advocate groups or the public. The last Dear Colleague letter archived on the administration's website was posted on March 27. The SSA Midwest-West Regional Commissioner Linda Kerr-Davis informed her staff of the switch to X in a Thursday phone call. 'The agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public—formerly known as Twitter,' Kerr-Davis said, according to the Federal News Network. 'This will become our communication mechanism.' Some employees have sounded the alarm that those reliant on SSA tend to be elderly and may not be tech savvy enough—or eager to—sign up for a social media platform just to receive updates about their benefits. X currently requires users to have an account to view any posts. 'Do they really expect senior citizens will join this platform?' asked one current SSA employee, according to WIRED. Another staffer called out the obvious, given that Musk—who remains the de facto DOGE director—also owns X: 'How isn't this a conflict of interest?' Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 and rebranded it as X. 'If you're used to getting press releases and Dear Colleague letters, you might want to subscribe to the official SSA X account so that you can stay up to date with agency news,' Kerr-Davis told her staff. 'I know this probably sounds very foreign to you—it did to me as well—and not what we are used to, but we are in different times now.' That official SSA account on X had 138,000 followers as of Friday afternoon. That is less than one percent of the 70 million Americans who are on Social Security. The Washington Post reported last week that the SSA had cut 7,000 jobs since February, with more cuts expected. Sources told WIRED the SSA will soon ax its regional office workforce by roughly 90 percent. Liz Huston, a White House spokesperson, told WIRED its reporting on regional office layoffs was 'misleading.' Instead of layoffs, she said, the SSA is moving regional staffers to become 'front-line help,' which is part of it 'allocating finite resources where they are most needed.' 'President Trump will continue to always protect Social Security,' she added.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security Administration ‘will be using X to communicate' moving forward
The Social Security Administration (SSA) unveiled Thursday that it would use the social platform X to make announcements going forward, instead of traditional press releases or memos typically posted to the agency's website. 'The agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public — formerly known as Twitter,' Linda Kerr-Davis, SSA Midwest-West regional commissioner told employees in a call Thursday, according to Federal News Network (FNN). 'This will become our communication mechanism,' she told reporters. The shift comes as communications staff at the agency has dwindled due to reassignments in front-facing roles at field offices across the country. Officials announced that regional SSA offices would no longer have fully staffed public affairs offices as a result. 'If you're used to getting press releases and Dear Colleague letters, you might want to subscribe to the official SSA X account, so you can stay up to date with agency news,' Kerr-Davis said, as reported by FNN. 'I know this probably sounds very foreign to you — it did to me as well — and not what we are used to, but we are in different times now,' she added. The SSA's last press release, which was posted March 27 on the website, denied reports that local field offices may be closing. It also features a link to an inactive social media account for the agency that encouraged website viewers to follow the press office on X. The past few months have seen considerable changes at the agency under the Trump administration, which announced new verification standards that were later walked back by officials who said they were evaluating policies to prevent fraud. The updated policies have caused some concerns for rural communities and people who require assistance to travel to the in-person offices or those who have trouble logging in to their accounts online for help. The final memo on its website said the agency would work with the public to address the issues. 'SSA works closely with local congressional delegations before closing any office permanently,' the last release reads. 'The agency also reassigns employees from an affected office to other locations to help communities access in-person services.' Officials noted that while no field offices have been permanently closed, some buildings may have their leases terminated as the department has turned mostly to virtual hearings. The Hill reached out to the SSA for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-04-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Social Security Administration ‘will be using X to communicate' moving forward
The Social Security Administration (SSA) on Thursday unveiled that it would use social platform X to make announcements going forward, instead of traditional press releases or memos typically posted to the website. 'The agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public — formerly known as Twitter,' Linda Kerr-Davis, SSA Midwest-West (MWW) Regional Commissioner told employees in a call Thursday, according to Federal News Network (FNN). 'This will become our communication mechanism,' she told reporters. The shift comes as communications staff at the agency has dwindled due to reassignments in front-facing roles at field offices across the country. Officials announced that Regional SSA offices would no longer have fully staffed public affairs offices as a result. 'If you're used to getting press releases and Dear Colleague letters, you might want to subscribe to the official SSA X account, so you can stay up to date with agency news,' Kerr-Davis said as reported by FNN. 'I know this probably sounds very foreign to you — it did to me as well — and not what we are used to, but we are in different times now,' she added. The SSA's last press release, which was posted March 27 on the website, denied reports that local field offices may be closing. It also features a link to an inactive social media account for the agency that encouraged website viewers to follow the press office on X. The last few months have amounted to considerable changes at the agency under the Trump administration, which announced new verification standards that were later walked back by officials who said they were evaluating policies to prevent fraud. The updated policies have caused some concerns for rural communities and people who require assistance to travel to the in-person offices or those who have trouble logging in to their accounts online for help. The final memo on its website said the agency would work with the public to address the issues. 'SSA works closely with local congressional delegations before closing any office permanently,' the last release reads. 'The agency also reassigns employees from an affected office to other locations to help communities access in-person services.' Officials noted that while no field offices have been permanently closed, some buildings may have their leases terminated as the department has turned mostly to virtual hearings.
