Trump Administration Moves to Defund Social Security Advisory Board

The Trump administration plans to eliminate funding for the Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), a bipartisan group that advises the president and Congress on Social Security policy, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed cutting the board’s $3 million annual budget to zero for the next fiscal year, effectively halting its operations.

Established in the 1990s, the SSAB has provided objective analysis to help improve Social Security, a program delivering $1.4 trillion in benefits to 73 million Americans annually. While the board does not make decisions, its research has shaped agency practices and legislation, including a 2018 law improving oversight for representative payees.

President Donald Trump’s broader government downsizing efforts, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, have targeted the Social Security Administration for job cuts and operational reductions, drawing criticism from unions, Democratic lawmakers, and advocacy groups. Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the move, accusing Trump and Musk of seeking to weaken Social Security services.

OMB spokesperson Rachel Cauley said no final budget decisions had been made. However, SSAB Chair Bob Joondeph noted the board had not been formally informed. Ending the board officially would still require congressional action.

Former SSAB chairs expressed mixed reactions. Henry Aaron of the Brookings Institution highlighted the board’s contributions but acknowledged its limitations. Former Representative Hal Daub questioned whether there was enough public support to resist its elimination.

If the defunding proceeds, the board’s work will cease, ending a rare bipartisan forum for Social Security policy development.