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Social Security Administration says it''s identified $800M in savings
[THEHILL] The Social Security Administration (SSA) said in a release that it has identified more than $800 million in savings or ''cost avoidance'' for fiscal 2025 among information technology, grants, property and payroll.

The SSA stated that it froze hiring and ''drastically'' cut back on overtime, saving about $550 million.

The government agency that administers the Social Security program said it cut back $150 million from the information technology systems (ITS) budget by canceling ''non-essential contracts and identifying reductions in other ITS contracts.''

Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek said Monday evening the agency has ''operated on autopilot'' for far too long.

''We have spent billions annually doing the same things the same way, leading to bureaucratic stagnation, inefficiency, and a lack of meaningful service improvements,'' Dudek said in a statement. ''It is time to change just that.''

The SSA said it made a 70 percent reduction in travel, saving to the tune of $10 million. The agency said it also terminated $15 million in contracts and another $15 million in grants.

Other aspects that have seen reductions within the SSA are postage, printing, protective security officers and property.

The SSA began notifying workers last week that ''significant workforce reductions'' are about to take place as part of an ''agency-wide organizational restructuring.'' Up to 7,000 employees are expected to be let go, The News Agency that Dare Not be Named reported.

Posted by: Fred 2025-03-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=744140