Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act is a Senate bill introduced to overhaul funding, governance, and operations of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The core idea is to create a permanent, formula-based funding stream for SSA administrative expenses (essentially the costs of running the agency and its programs), along with a suite of governance and oversight changes intended to strengthen civil rights oversight, data privacy protections, field-office access, and customer support. The bill would also shield SSA from certain executive-branch “efficiency” controls, add new internal offices (civil rights, transformation, analytics/oversight), expand assistance for beneficiaries with disabilities, and provide targeted grants to State protection-and-advocacy groups and community-based disability organizations. In short, it seeks to stabilize SSA funding, expand protections for beneficiaries, and bolster accountability and service delivery. If enacted, the bill would substantially change SSA’s funding mechanics (moving toward a guaranteed, formula-based appropriation tied to benefit payments), expand internal agency offices, tighten rules around data access and privacy for political appointees, and set explicit protections to keep field offices and live customer-service options in place. It also broadens support and legal resources for disability beneficiaries through state grants and nonprofit/advocacy grants. The overall aim appears to be preserving SSA operations and beneficiary protections while limiting certain external oversight and making governance more centralized within SSA.
Key Points
- 1Permanent, formula-based funding for SSA administrative expenses. For each fiscal year starting in 2026, SSA would be appropriated an amount equal to 1.2% of the sum of (a) benefit payments under title II and (b) expected benefit payments under titles VIII and XVI, with funding split between the trust funds and general fund as specified. Title XVIII costs would be funded from hospital-insurance trust funds as needed. This creates a stable, ongoing funding stream for SSA operations.
- 2Exemption from Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) jurisdiction and related executive orders. The bill would remove SSA from DOGE authority and exempt SSA programs from certain listed executive orders, effectively insulating SSA from some cross-agency efficiency reviews and mandates.
- 3Stronger protections around access to beneficiary data and penalties for violations. The bill adds a new subsection to the Social Security Act prohibiting most access to beneficiary data systems by political appointees and special government employees, with a narrow research-exception. It also establishes civil and criminal penalties for improper data disclosure or access, and requires Inspector General investigations and congressional reporting on violations.
- 4Maintenance of field offices and live customer service. SSA would be required to keep the same number of field and hearing offices as of January 1, 2025, avoid closures unless in emergencies, ensure live operator access, and deliver improvements in telephone wait times and service responsiveness. An online benefits-application option would be established in accessible formats.
- 5Creation of three new internal offices to strengthen governance and oversight. The bill would establish:
- 6- Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (with a Deputy Commissioner for Civil Rights and responsibilities for equal-employer opportunity, complaint processing, accommodations, and data tracking).
- 7- Office of Transformation (focused on strategic guidance, project oversight, and system/process improvements).
- 8- Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight (focused on program quality, evaluation, and fraud prevention).
- 9Expanded support for beneficiaries with disabilities and legal rights protections. The bill would authorize:
- 10- State grants to protection-and-advocacy systems to assist disability beneficiaries with benefits access, appeals, and related services.
- 11- Social Security Assistance and Representation Grants to support community-based organizations that help individuals with disabilities navigate applications, appeals, and benefits processes.
- 12- Reporting requirements and minimum grant amounts to ensure program stability and accountability.
- 13Additional provisions on overpayments, grants, and program integrity. The bill codifies recovery policies for Social Security overpayments and expands program-integrity activities and reporting. It also broadens protections for legal rights and access to benefits for SSI/SSDI applicants and beneficiaries.