DOGE Announces Closure of Two Kentucky Social Security Offices!

Two Kentucky Social Security offices that help people get new cards and apply for benefits might close as part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s plan to reduce government spending. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, has listed the offices in Hazard and Campbellsville for closure. These are among at least 45 Social Security offices targeted for shutdown, according to the DOGE website.

Other Federal Agencies in Lexington Also Affected

In addition to the Social Security offices, DOGE’s website lists two Lexington-based federal agencies that could also face closures: the U.S. Farm Services Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration. DOGE and Musk have been assigned to make significant cuts to the federal government, including laying off an unknown number of federal employees and halting some federal funding.

Lease Terminations and Office Relocations

According to the DOGE website, leases for all four Kentucky offices have been or will be terminated. However, it is unclear if this means the offices are permanently closed or if they have moved to new locations. Some offices listed as closed on the DOGE website have relocated.

Confusion Over Closure Announcements

There have been instances where DOGE claimed credit for closing offices that were shut down before the agency was established. For example, a U.S. National Archives site in Fairfield, Ohio, was marked as closed by DOGE, but the closure was announced by the federal archive service before President Trump’s election and the creation of DOGE.

Location Details of Affected Offices

The DOGE website does not provide addresses for the agencies marked for closure. In Lexington, the U.S. Farm Services Agency has offices at Corporate Drive and Leestown Road. However, there is no listed address for the U.S. Small Business Administration in Lexington, though an office exists in Louisville. The main Social Security office in Hazard is located at 122 Reynolds Lane. There is also a Disability Adjudication and Review office in Hazard, but it is temporarily closed, according to Google. It is unclear if this is the same office listed on the DOGE website. The Campbellsville Social Security office is at 101 Hiestand Farm Road.

Local Officials and Public Response

Campbellsville Mayor Dennis Benningfield stated that he has not received any official information about the closure of the Campbellsville office. He mentioned that a few years ago, there were discussions about creating regional offices and possibly closing the Taylor County location. “We have not heard anything,” Benningfield said. Emails and calls to Republican U.S. Representatives Hal Rogers (representing Hazard) and Jamie Comer (representing Campbellsville) were not immediately returned. Emails to the Social Security offices also went unanswered.

Impact on Social Security Services in Kentucky

Kentucky currently has over 20 Social Security offices, excluding the ones in Hazard and Campbellsville. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Social Security had 1,200 field offices that served 43 million applicants and beneficiaries in 2019. The closure of these offices could significantly impact residents who rely on Social Security services in these areas. Reference Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.