¶ Overview
In 2025, Biggs praised Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” as DOGE-driven cuts and downsizing were affecting the federal government’s ability to deliver services to seniors. More than 1.53 million Arizonans relied on Social Security benefits.
Biggs promoted DOGE even though it resulted in federal funding cuts to Arizona nonprofits and organizations. He downplayed the federal layoffs while Trump threatened the livelihoods of nearly 34,000 federal workers in Arizona.
¶ Biggs Praised DOGE And The Trump Administration Despite The Harm It Was Causing To The Social Security Administration
¶ Biggs Praised Trump And Elon Musk For DOGE’s “Amazing Work”
March 2025: Biggs Praised Trump For Allegedly Doing “Amazing Work Identifying Fraud And Waste In Federal Spending,” And Thanked Elon Musk “For His Service To Our Nation.” According to Biggs’ campaign Twitter, “DOGE has done amazing work identifying fraud and waste in federal spending. Congress must get to work to root out funding for these programs and put our fiscal house back in order. Thanks to @elonmusk for his service to our nation! @DOGE”
[Twitter, @andybiggs4az, 3/4/25]
¶ At The Social Security Administration, Doge Forced Mass Layoffs, Longer Wait Times And Frequent Website Crashes
HEADLINE: "Social Security Stops Reporting Call Wait Times And Other Metrics" [Washington Post, 6/20/25]
HEADLINE: "As Social Security Services Are Cut Back, Millions Of Seniors Face Long Drives" [Axios, 6/8/25]
HEADLINE: "Social Security Website Keeps Crashing, As DOGE Demands Cuts To IT Staff" [Washington Post, 4/7/25]
HEADLINE: "Social Security Faces Thousands More Job Cuts Even With Service In Tailspin" [Washington Post, 4/4/25]
The Center On Budget And Policy Priorities Said The Trump Administration Had Pushed Out 7,000 Social Security Workers. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "Over the past five months, the Trump Administration has forced the Social Security Administration (SSA) through a radical transformation that threatens to disrupt services for the largely older and severely disabled people who most rely on the agency.[1] The Trump Administration and its so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have created huge gaps in customer service and support by indiscriminately pushing out 7,000 workers to hit an arbitrary staffing reduction target. This is the largest staffing cut in SSA’s history.[2] (See Figure 1.)" [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 6/23/25]
The Social Security Administration Website Crashed Four Times In Ten Days In March 2025 Because Servers Were Overloaded. According to the Washington Post, "The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
Field Office Managers At Social Security Offices Had To Answer Phones In Place Of Receptionists Because DOGE Had Pushed Out So Many Federal Employees. According to the Washington Post, "The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
DOGE Eliminated The Social Security Administration’s System To Monitor Customer Experience. According to the Washington Post, "The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging in to their online accounts. In the field, office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. Amid all this, the agency no longer has a system to monitor customer experience because that office was eliminated as part of the cost-cutting efforts led by Elon Musk. And the phones keep ringing. And ringing." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
Early February-Late March 2025: AARP Said More Than 2,000 People Per Week Had Called Expressing Concerns About Whether They Would Continue To Get Their Social Security Benefits. According to the Washington Post, "Alarmed lawmakers are straining to answer questions back home from angry constituents. Calls have flooded into congressional offices. AARP announced Monday that more than 2,000 people a week have called the retiree organization since early February — double the usual number — with concerns about whether benefits they paid for during their working careers will continue. Social Security is the primary source of income for about 40 percent of older Americans." [Washington Post, 3/25/25]
¶ More Than 1.53 Million Arizonans Relied on social security benefits
In Arizona, 1,533,323 Arizonans Relied On Social Security Benefits, Including 144,998 Arizonans In The 5th Congressional District. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 1,533,323 Arizonans received Social Security benefits, including 144,998 Arizonans in the 5th congressional district. [Social Security Administration, Arizona, 2024]
¶ Biggs Promoted Trump’s DOGE Even Though Its Policies Resulted In The Mass Layoff Of Arizonans And Threatened Services
¶ Biggs Advocated For Trump’s DOGE Cuts And Dismissed Concerns Over Federal Layoffs
March 2025: Biggs Claimed Most Federal Workers Who Lost Their Jobs Due To DOGE Cuts “Were On Probationary Status” And “Could Have Lost Those Jobs At Any Time.” According to Biggs in an interview with NBC 12 News, “HOST: Does it concern you that so many people are being put out of work at a time where I'm not saying our economy is fragile, but a lot of people with consumer confidence are saying, I'm not sure how the next six months are going to look. BIGGS: Yeah, I mean, you're seeing is a transition. That's what I would call it. And yes, it is hard to see people lose jobs. But don't forget that many of the people that are losing jobs, they were on probationary status. They could have lost those jobs at any time. And I'm not saying that doesn't hurt those individuals because it does. At the same time, you have people who simply were given options. They were told if you opt, we will give you retirement, we're going to give you pay for X amount of days, X months. So they made some choices. And the other thing I would tell you is you also had people who refused to come back to work. So you had a whole mixture here going on of. Right. Trying to right size this thing.” [Andy Biggs Interview – KPNX-PHX (NBC): 12 News, 3/20/25] (VIDEO)
January 2025: Biggs Reintroduced Legislation To Support Trump’s DOGE Initiatives And Reiterated His Commitment To Shrinking The Size Of Government. According to a press release from Congressman Andy Biggs, “Congressman Andy Biggs is committed to limiting the size and scope of government and restoring the balance of powers, both horizontally and vertically. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative was founded to fulfill the American voters’ demand for government reform. Congressman Biggs has reintroduced legislation to jump start DOGE’s mission. ‘The federal government has expanded far beyond what our founders intended. President Trump, Elon Musk, and congressional Republicans must be dedicated to shrinking the size of the government and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are utilized as efficiently as possible. America voted for major government reform, and Congress must be ready to deliver President Trump’s agenda,’ said Congressman Biggs.” [Press Release – Congressman Andy Biggs, 1/22/25]
¶ April 2025: DOGE Cut $6 Million In Federal Funding From Fourteen Arizona Nonprofits And Organizations
April 2025: DOGE Cut $6 Million In Federal Funding From Fourteen Arizona Nonprofits And Organizations, Including $380,000 From The AmeriCorp’s Kind People Project, A Program That Helped Title I Schools Across The Valley. According to AZ Family, “Fourteen Arizona nonprofits and organizations are losing an estimated $6 million from federal funding cuts. The Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is cutting $400 million from AmeriCorps, a program that helps local communities with critical needs. The Be Kind People Project’s $380,000 grant was canceled over the weekend, with 1.5 years left on the contract. Now, 13 AmeriCorps employees who work with ‘Be Kind’ are getting let go. Those employees worked at 13 predominantly Title I school's across the Valley, and they’ve helped thousands of kids with youth development and hundreds of teachers, too. […] See below for a full list of Arizona programs that are losing funding: Northern Arizona University Arizona Teacher Residency Arizona Supreme Court Probation Services Division Arizona State University BE SAGE Program Northern Arizona University Environmental Steward AmeriCorps West Valley Health Equity Northern Arizona University Public Health Executive Office of State of Arizona Placeholder Funds for future allocation Family Scholar House, Inc Vista College Preparatory, Inc. Pima Prevention Partnership Maricopa Superior Court Law Library Parental Support Services AZ Inc Area Agency on Aging, Region One, Inc The Be Kind People Project” [AZ Family, 4/30/25]
¶ DOGE Cuts Targeted 34,000 Federal Workers In Arizona
March 2025: DOGE Cuts Could Impact Arizona’s 34,000 Federal Workers. According to AZ Central, “Arizona has 34,000 workers who could be impacted by the DOGE cuts, according to the Congressional Research Service. They represent roughly 2% of the civilian federal workers who are employed across every state and territory.” [AZ Central, 3/9/25]
- February 2025: Trump Offered Buyouts To Federal Workers, Including The 34,000 Arizonan Federal Workers, As Part Of Trump’s Effort To Shrink And Remake The Federal Government. According to AZ Central, “President Donald Trump’s offer to pay federal employees to quit their jobs could affect some 34,000 government workers in Arizona who do everything from overseeing federal lands and providing health care to veterans, to directing air traffic and administering Social Security. The Trump administration offered buyouts last week to nearly all 2 million civilians who work for the federal government across every U.S. state and territory. The results of the initiative could have a significant impact in Arizona, a state that’s heavily reliant on the federal government. […] The resignation push is part of Trump’s broader effort to remake the federal government. Trump ordered federal workers to report to the office five days per week and signed executive orders banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs and squashing gender identity during his first days back in office.” [AZ Central, 2/2/25]