Betsy Osborn, NOSSCR Government Relations Director

As you may know, President Biden’s 2025 budget proposed a nine percent increase to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) discretionary funding over 2023 levels. In dollars, this would amount to $15.4 billion. Additionally, the President’s budget included $325 billion for SSA to implement and administer a National Paid Leave Program.

Among other things, the proposed increase in SSA’s funding would allocate $1.5 billion for technology modernization at the agency and $1.6 billion to bolster program integrity, including allowing SSA to take corrective action on incorrect or improper payments.

Commissioner O’Malley has asked for additional funding over the President’s budget proposal for the agency. The Commissioner proposes an increase to $16.4 billion ($1 billion over the President’s ask) over 2023 levels. O’Malley contends that the additional funding is necessary to hire adequate staff and improve customer service at SSA.

On July 10, 2024, the House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines (31-25) to cut SSA’s budget by $450 million for the next fiscal year. Republicans who lead the committee suggested that the cuts were due to reduced in-person staffing at SSA’s headquarters in Maryland. The cuts were included in the fiscal 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill, which may be voted on by the full House in August.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet voted on funding for SSA.