New York State Attorney General Letitia James has criticized President Donald Trump for recently announced changes to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
James wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Millions of vulnerable Americans, including New Yorkers, rely on the Social Security benefits they deserve. Trump’s new policies to close offices and limit phone support will prevent people from receiving the benefits they require. It is shameful.”
Newsweek has emailed the Trump administration and the attorney general to request comment on James’ remarks.
Why It Matters
The attorney general’s comments follow an announcement earlier this week that, beginning March 31, benefit claimants will no longer be able to verify their identity with the SSA or change their direct deposit information over the phone.
Employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are working to reduce federal costs at the Social Security Administration and other government departments.
It is also not the first time James has confronted President Trump and his allies in office. She is also involved in an ongoing lawsuit with 18 other state attorneys general to prevent DOGE, which is unofficially led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, from accessing personal data stored in the Treasury Department.
What To Know
The SSA announced the changes on Tuesday, saying in a statement: “Over the next two weeks, SSA will gradually transition to stronger identity proofing procedures for both benefit claims and direct deposit changes.
“Individuals seeking these services who cannot use their personal ‘my Social Security’ account, which requires online identity proofing, will then need to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity in person.”
The SSA has stated that the change will “further safeguard Social Security records and benefits against fraudulent activity,” despite the fact that the move could result in an additional 85,000 people visiting field offices every week—at a time when several are closing and staffing cuts are being made at the federal agency.
James v. Trump
This is not the first time James has publicly criticized Trump; she has sparred with him several times since being elected attorney general in 2018. On the night of her election, when Trump was serving his first term as president, she said, “He should know that we here in New York—and I, in particular—are not afraid of you.”
James went on to say that she would shine “a bright light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings, and every dealing, demanding truthfulness at every turn.” This referred to a civil fraud lawsuit she filed against Trump’s real estate company prior to his 2024 election victory.
Trump has maintained his innocence in the case, and the current judgment of more than $500 million, including interest, is being appealed. In September 2024, Trump ripped into James on his social media platform, calling her a “total disaster.” “This Witch Hunt, by Letitia James, is SO BAD for New York City and State,” the Republican wrote.
James has also recently joined a lawsuit opposing Trump’s proposed birthright citizenship ban and is leading another case against his January attempt to impose a broad federal funding freeze, both of which were blocked in court. James has threatened to sue if Trump mandates local support for federal immigration raids.
What People Are Saying
James said in a joint statement after a federal court granted her motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent Musk and DOGE from gaining unauthorized access to federal systems: “Musk and DOGE are attempting to eliminate critical programs and services—from health care to public safety to education—that our communities require.
I led a coalition of attorneys general to put an end to this lawlessness, and a federal court has once again denied them access to our confidential information.”
On a March 18 call with reporters, Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, stated, “These changes are not intended to hurt our customers, but to make sure benefits go to the right customer at the right time.”
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, commented on the news that the SSA will require beneficiaries to visit local field offices to prove their identities: “This will make it far more difficult for the American people to claim their earned benefits. It could even cause major delays and, eventually, system failure by overwhelming the field offices.”
What Happens Next
Additional changes to SSA services may be on the way as DOGE continues its work at the agency.
