Zinke said he liked what Trump’s DOGE was doing as DOGE-driven cuts and downsizing were affecting the federal government’s ability to deliver services to seniors. More than 133,839 Montanans in Zinke’s district relied on Social Security benefits. Zinke has stood by while Social Security was threatened before. When he was first elected to congress he dismissed concerns about Republican proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare.
Zinke said he liked DOGE even though it resulted in the mass layoffs of Montana workers that threatened rural economies.
Zinke: “I Think Everything Is On The Table, I Like What DOGE Is Doing. Let’s Shake It Up Because Business As Usual Is Not Working In The Great Outdoors.” According to an interview Ryan Zinke gave on News Nation, “ZINKE: I think everything is on the table, I like what DOGE is doing. Let’s shake it up because business as usual is not working in the great outdoors. We’re burning our forests up. We're not using our resources wisely. And I think everyone can say there's a lot of room for improvement. But first, let’s get rid of the fraud, waste and abuse.” [News Nation: The Hill, 2/18/25; The Hill, 2/19/25] (video)
Zinke Acknowledged The Federal Cuts Led By DOGE Were Chaotic But Claimed Things Were Mostly Smoothed Out. According to the Daily Inter Lake, "Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke defended efforts by the Trump administration to downsize and remake the federal government while taking questions from Glacier High School students on Thursday. The students met with the congressman at the front entrance of the high school in Kalispell on March 13 to celebrate the appointment of a classmate to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They took the opportunity to pepper Zinke with questions about federal workforce reductions and the future of education funding. Asked about the slew of layoffs of federal workers, some of which have since been reversed by the courts, Zinke acknowledged bumps in the process. […] ‘There were some mistakes that were made but mostly it's been smoothed out,’ he said. ‘... Sometimes, you know, shutting down like jobs, anyone on probation ... well sometimes that may not have the same effect as you want.’" [Daily Inter Lake, 3/15/25]
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, 4/8/25]
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]
Confronted With Concerns About Republican Budget Proposals To Cut Medicare And Social Security, Zinke Responded That Cutting All Defense Spending, Taxing The Richest One Percent, And Other Proposals Would Not Fix The National Debt. According to the Daily Inter Lake, "While most of Zinke’s responses drew support from the crowd, one man told the congressman that he was alarmed by Republican budget proposals to cut Medicare and Social Security funding and partially privatize the programs. ‘I don’t want to be at the mercy of a for-profit system of health-care providers and insurers,’ he said. ‘I’m alarmed at the prospect of turning over [Social Security] money into the hands of corrupt Wall Street bankers who tried to destroy our system eight years ago. ... You have to expect the wealthy to do their part by accepting higher taxes, which they can well afford.’ Zinke responded that cutting all defense spending, taxing the richest 1 percent and other Democratic proposals would not provide a fix to the country’s growing debt. ‘Take all their cash. In fact, take all your cash. Take all the cash in the entire world and it’s doesn’t add up to $18 trillion,’ Zinke said, referring to U.S. debt." [Daily Inter Lake, 4/2/15]
2024: 133,839 Montanans In The 1st Congressional District Relied On Social Security Benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2024, 133,839 Montanans in the 1st congressional district received Social Security benefits. [Social Security Administration, Montana, 2024]
Zinke Claimed The National Parks Service Was Ready For Its Busy Season Despite Experiencing Mass Layoffs. According to Roll Call, "Congressional Republicans overseeing the Park Service are confident Burgum can bring on sufficient staff to keep things safe and enjoyable for visitors, of whom there were more than 330 million last year. ‘Secretary Burgum has already announced that seasonal employees are not impacted by the hiring freeze,’ said Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., a former Interior secretary who is a member of the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. ‘According to the park superintendents I’ve spoken to, they are fully prepared for a successful visitor season.’" [Roll Call, 3/11/25]
Zinke: “I Think The Parks Are Pretty Good Shape Because Doug Burgum, There's No One Better In Our Parks And Look He's Got A Lot Of Advice.” According to an interview Ryan Zinke gave on News Nation, “HOST: let me leave you with this, the parks are not in danger from your perspective? ZINKE” No, actually, I think the parks are pretty good shape because Doug Burgum, there's no one better in our parks and look he's got a lot of advice. We want to make sure our parks are healthy and last in the future because they are America's greatest gem.” [News Nation: The Hill, 2/18/25] (video)