Mackenzie also defended 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 180,000 Pennsylvanians in Mackenzie’s district relied on Social Security benefits.
Mackenzie In 2024: "We Must Stop The Wasteful Overspending And Protect Programs Like Medicare And Social Security." According to an opinion article by Ryan Mackenzie in the Morning Call, "We must stop the wasteful overspending and protect programs like Medicare and Social Security. We must elect candidates who are willing to tackle these issues and I hope you will join me in this fight to get our country back on the right track." [Opinion – Ryan Mackenzie, Morning Call, 4/3/24]
Mackenzie Promised To “Take On Wasteful Spending, Defend Seniors, And Protect Medicare And Social Security.” According to a post on Ryan Mackenzie’s Twitter page, “While Washington politicians like Susan Wild are breaking Medicare and bankrupting Social Security. Ryan Mackenzie will take on wasteful spending, defend seniors, and protect Medicare and Social Security. Join the fight: https://mackenzieforcongress.com/record” [Twitter, Ryan Mackenzie, 8/14/24]
Mackenzie: “When It Comes To Social Security, I Am Not For Any Changes That Would Negatively Impact People Who Are In That Program.” According to a tele-town hall hosted by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie: “MACKENZIE: But do just want to wrap up on this point to tell you that when it comes to Social Security, I am not for any changes that would negatively impact people who are in that program. We want to make sure that we in fact strengthen that program so that we guarantee that those benefits that so many people have earned are there for them when they move into retirement.” [Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Tele-Town Hall, 3/20/25] (audio)
Mackenzie: “Let Me Be Very Clear. I Am Definitely Opposed To The Privatization Of Social Security.” According to a tele-town hall hosted by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie: “MACKENZIE: Let me be very clear. I am definitely opposed to the privatization of Social Security. Again, these are benefits that everybody who is in that program has earned. They have paid into that. And we want to make sure that they receive the full benefits that they are, that they have earned and that they are entitled to.” [Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Tele-Town Hall, 3/20/25] (audio)
Mackenzie Claimed DOGE’s Concept Was Great, But The Execution Was “A Whole Different Story.” According to the Morning Call, "‘When we’re talking about regulations or laws like you’re talking about, it’s what I’ve been saying about DOGE,’ Mackenzie said. ‘The concept is great, right? You support the concept of increasing the amount of zero emission vehicles. That’s a nice thing to shoot for in a goal, but then the execution or the practical application is a whole different story. ‘How you get there, how that transition occurs, is what we have to be concerned about, because that’s where the rubber meets the road.’" [Morning Call, 3/21/25]
Mackenzie Defended DOGE And Its Mission. According to Morning Call, "He accused Democrats of attempting to ‘demonize’ Musk’s efforts to find fraudulent and abusive federal spending via the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk had, while campaigning for Trump last year, promised to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, but at a recent Cabinet meeting, he lowered that expected number and said the initiative would save the government $150 billion in 2026, the New York Times reported. The DOGE website, which publicly tracks spending cuts and purported fraud discovered by the department, also has incorrectly reported many of its purported savings, including erroneously listing contracts that were never cancelled and inflating the actual size of several cancelled contracts. ‘Democrats want to demonize the person that created and popularized the electric car, that created and popularized so many other great inventions because he wants to come in and look at waste, fraud and abuse,’ Mackenzie said of Musk. ‘Again, they are fighting against change. They are fighting against cutting waste, fraud and abuse in our government. That’s what people are fighting against when they’re fighting against Elon Musk and the DOGE initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency.’" [Morning Call, 4/11/25]
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 Social Security Administration Website Crashed Four Times In Ten Days In March 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]
2024: 180,847 Pennsylvanians In The 7th Congressional District Relied On Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 180,847 Pennsylvanians in The 7th congressional district received Social Security benefits. [Social Security Administration, Pennsylvania, 2024]