WASHINGTON – Four Social Security Administration office leases in Alabama are set to end, according to the Department of Government Efficiency’s website. But an Alabama congressman says at least two of the locations are remote-hearing spaces, not primary offices.
The DOGE ‘Savings’ tab on its website lists the Anniston, Cullman, Gadsden, and Jasper SSA offices as set for closure under its ‘Wall of Receipts.’ However, Congressman Robert Aderholt’s office said the Jasper and Cullman SSA offices are open and will remain open.
“The adjustments being made involve the cancellation of lease agreements covering hearing spaces, not the areas used for day-to-day operations,” Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said in a statement. “These changes will not affect the ability of residents to access Social Security services at these locations.”
Alabama Daily News reached out to Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, whose district includes Anniston and Gadsden, about the status of those offices, but it hasn’t provided an update.
The SSA said it is working with the General Services Administration to review office leases for efficiency.
“Most of the leases we are not renewing are for small remote hearing sites that are co-located with other Federal space,” a SSA spokesperson said in a statement. “As the majority of our hearings are held virtually, we no longer need as many in-person hearings locations. In fact, in FY24, 20% of these offices held no in-person hearings.”
It is not clear what category the Anniston and Gadsden offices might fall under in the SSA determinations.
“Other offices are non-public facing, being consolidated into nearby locations, or we had planned to close,” an SSA spokesperson said. “Social Security continuously monitors and evaluates the use of our office space to maximize efficiency for the American taxpayer.”
The Anniston office is listed on the DOGE website as 12,926 square feet and the annual lease costs $304,228. The website says the closure will save the federal government $608,457. The Gadsden office is 1,450 square feet, costs $32,357, and is expected to save the federal government $67,410.
The Cullman office is 7,361 square feet and costs $180,784. It is expected to save $512,221. The Jasper location is 8,919 square feet and costs $186,411. However, the total savings for this lease termination is listed as $0 on the website.
Aderholt said DOGE’s work is important to “ensure responsible management of federal resources” but said the efforts are not focused on cutting Social Security.
“My office has been in close contact with the Social Security Administration to ensure that essential services remain available to the people of Alabama,” Aderholt said in a statement. “I will continue working to protect these critical programs and to ensure that our communities receive the services they need and deserve.”
Other Social Security offices nationwide are also set to close, according to the DOGE website.
Local social security office leases aren’t the only DOGE impacts to hit the agency. SSA is also set to cut roughly 7,000 workers to align with President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government.
“The agency plans to reduce the size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure, with a significant focus on functions and employees who do not directly provide mission critical services,” a press release said.
The SSA said Monday its lease terminations will lead to $4 million in annual rent savings once terminations are complete.
“Most sites are co-located; others are non-public facing, consolidations, or preplanned closings,” a press release said.
SSA also recently closed the Office of Transformation and the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity. Five Birmingham social security workers lost their jobs because of the closure of the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity.