SSA Acting Commissioner Says 'Wasteful DEI And Gender Ideology' Contributed To Poor Customer Service And Delayed Benefit Decisions

The Social Security Administration is bringing back National Social Security Month this year for the first time since 2019. In a statement on April 22, Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek said the annual campaign — meant to help Americans access their benefits — was suspended during the pandemic and never resumed under the Biden administration.

Now, under the Trump administration, it's back, with a renewed focus on in-person service, extended outreach through August, and what Dudek calls "a return to the agency's roots."

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Alongside the announcement, Dudek criticized past DEI efforts — aligning with President Donald Trump's push to dismantle such policies, a campaign that has drawn backlash from critics who say it threatens fairness and accessibility in government.

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Dudek Points to DEI as a Root Cause of Delays

In his statement, Dudek claimed that under the previous administration, SSA became distracted by what he called "radical and wasteful DEI and gender ideology." He said these priorities, combined with extended telework arrangements, led to long wait times for customer service and delays in benefit decisions.

The SSA, according to Dudek, is now realigning with Trump's directive to make government "serve the people." That includes canceling contracts related to DEI initiatives, shifting remote employees back to in-person roles, and restructuring internal systems to prioritize direct customer service. The SSA states that these changes are projected to save the agency over $1 billion.

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A Controversial Shift in Priorities

While Dudek's comments reflect a broader push within the Trump administration to eliminate DEI policies across federal agencies, the public remains split. According to Pew Research Center, 53% of Americans disapprove of ending DEI efforts, while 44% support the move. Among Republicans over 50 — a key demographic for Social Security — approval rises to 84%.

Critics, including advocacy groups and some lawmakers, argue that targeting DEI as "wasteful" misrepresents its purpose. Dominique Hollins, founder of the DEI consulting firm WĒ360, told CNN that DEI programs are intended to create fair and inclusive workplaces, especially for communities historically left out of federal employment and services.

Concerns Remain Over Access and Staffing

Beyond the policy debate, concerns persist about whether the SSA can keep up with demand. SSA's new identity verification requirements — originally intended to improve security — were recently rolled back after groups like AARP raised alarms. Many older adults and rural residents, they said, could be excluded if required to verify identities only in person or online.

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Staffing levels are also under scrutiny. While the Trump administration has said it won't cut Social Security benefits, the SSA has announced plans to reduce its staff by 7,000 employees.

Experts warn that fewer workers could mean longer delays — even if benefits stay intact. Pamela Herd, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, told Time that the real concern isn't whether benefits will be formally reduced, but whether the SSA will have the staff to "deliver the benefits that the Congress has mandated that they deliver." 

She pointed to overwhelmed field offices and hours-long phone wait times as signs of a system buckling under pressure. "There’s a real disconnect between the statement, ‘I’m not going to cut benefits,' and in practice, what is going on in the agency," she said.

Looking Ahead

As the SSA begins its 90th anniversary outreach campaign, the agency faces the challenge of restoring public trust while navigating polarizing reforms. Whether recent changes will improve service — or lead to further disruption — remains to be seen.

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