The Social Security Administration (SSA) sent an email on March 27 to beneficiaries saying that reports that field offices were closing was an invention of fake news media. "Recent reports in the media that the [SSA] is permanently closing local field offices are false," the message said.


A press release, "Correcting the Record about Social Security Office Closings," on the SSA website has a similar message with additional details. The press release says that the SSA is committed to maintaining its field offices and suggests it has only targeted "small hearing rooms with no assigned employees" for closure.

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Here are the facts: DOGE and the SSA moved forward with plans to close multiple field offices. Then, without public notice or explanation, they reversed their plans. Now they are trying to pretend like they were never planning to close field offices, and people are confused due to misinformation from the media or Democratic politicians.

In Campbellsville, Kentucky, for example, the owner of a 12,750-square-foot office building leased to the SSA for a field office was informed by the General Services Administration (GSA) that the entire lease was being terminated. The SSA lease was also listed as terminated on the DOGE website. "DOGE has come in, and quickly, with little information, tried to take the services away from senior citizens in Kentucky and other parts of the country," Bill Broydrick, who represents the owner of the building, told WAVE news.

News of the closure generated protests from residents and local politicians. A couple of weeks later, the owner of the building in Campbellsville received another letter from the GSA saying it was reversing its decision to terminate the lease for the entire building:

“Upon further review, the GSA hereby rescinds the termination letter issued on February 21, 2025, to Mr. Richard Tanenbaum,” the letter said. “After careful consideration and discussion, the SSA has instead agreed to a partial termination of the SSA Office of Hearing Operation (OHO).”

The letter says instead of a full closure of the office (11,674 square feet and 65 parking spaces), the SSA will instead “partially” close the location, resulting in a closure of 1,436 square feet and 15 parking spaces. It says the “remaining” portion of the lease will remain active.

The letter ends with an apology to the owner over any “inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.”

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