The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Friday that it will eliminate 7,000 positions, reducing its workforce by over 12% as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping effort to downsize the federal government.

In a statement, the SSA defended the cuts, calling its current staffing levels “bloated” and emphasizing a shift toward “mission-critical services.” The agency will reduce its workforce from approximately 57,000 to 50,000 employees and consolidate its regional offices from ten to just four.

The Social Security Administration provides benefits to 73 million retired and disabled Americans each month, making it a crucial institution. Historically, the agency has been politically shielded from budget cuts, making Friday’s announcement a major shift in federal policy.

The move aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to shrink the federal workforce. Since Trump returned to office, more than 100,000 federal employees have been laid off or bought out as part of his push to streamline government operations.

In response to the announced layoffs, two dozen senior SSA officials resigned on Friday, according to an internal memo from acting commissioner Leland Dudek. The resignations follow the departure of former acting commissioner Michelle King, who stepped down amid concerns that members of Elon Musk’s DOGE team had gained access to SSA’s computer systems, which store personal data for tens of millions of Americans.

Neither the White House nor the Department of Government Efficiency has responded to requests for comment regarding the layoffs or resignations.

The cuts also raise questions about President Trump’s past assurances. During his re-election campaign, Trump repeatedly promised that Social Security would remain untouched by his cost-cutting measures. However, the administration now claims that eliminating these jobs will not impact benefits but will instead enhance efficiency by removing non-essential roles.