BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 21 states in filing an amicus brief urging a federal court to halt what they describe as the erratic and unlawful dismantling of the Social Security Administration (SSA) by acting administrator Leland Dudek and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—moves that threaten the critical benefits relied upon by millions of Americans.
The brief, filed in support of the plaintiffs in American Association of People with Disabilities v. Dudek, calls on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to issue a preliminary injunction blocking further mass layoffs, office closures, and abrupt reorganization efforts that could disrupt or delay Social Security payments.
“DOGE’s reckless and dishonest actions have created unprecedented delays and disruptions that threaten the Social Security checks 1.2 million Marylanders—including 375,000 seniors—depend on every month,” said Maryland Attorney General Brown. “Our elderly neighbors should not be forced to endure longer wait times, closed offices, and website failures because of the Trump Administration’s chaotic dismantling of these essential public services.”
“Do not mess with Social Security. Period,” said California Attorney General Tong. “This is not some tech start-up for hacker bros to play with. This is our country’s most fundamental economic lifeline, and without it, millions and millions of Americans will go hungry and homeless. The courts must step in now to block Elon Musk and his band of wannabee stormtroopers from dismantling Social Security before it is too late.”
“Millions of New Yorkers rely on Social Security benefits to ensure they can put food on the table, keep a roof over their head, and access quality health care,” said New York Attorney General James. “Elon Musk, DOGE, and the administration are yet again launching an attack on our most vulnerable communities. My office is standing up to defend everyday Americans’ ability to access the Social Security benefits they depend on.”
“When Elon Musk’s meddling puts the stability of this critical system at risk, we can’t just sit back,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said. “The people who depend on Social Security – older adults, veterans and disabled – deserve more than a game of chance with their futures. We’re demanding real accountability to put a stop to this mess.”
“The chaos we’re seeing within the Social Security Administration is alarming, especially for the hundreds of thousands of older Coloradans who rely on Social Security to make ends meet,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “Social Security is a promise made to hardworking people that they will live with dignity in retirement, and any attempts to break that promise are reprehensible. I will do everything in my power to ensure that Coloradans can rely on Social Security now and into the future.”
A System Under Siege
According to the brief, Dudek and DOGE have embraced a Silicon Valley-style “move fast and break things” approach, resulting in chaotic decision-making and a sharp reduction in staff and resources. Offices have been slated for closure only to be removed from lists hours later. Roughly 2,800 employees have retired or taken early buyouts, and more layoffs are planned—even as call wait times have increased by 50% and web platforms have suffered repeated crashes.
Critics argue that the changes are being justified by misleading claims from Dudek and top Trump allies. Elon Musk has alleged the SSA pays out $100 billion in improper payments annually, calling the program a “Ponzi scheme,” while Donald Trump has falsely claimed that millions of centenarians are receiving benefits. In contrast, the SSA’s Inspector General’s Office reports that less than 1% of payments from 2015 to 2022 were improper, most due to administrative delays rather than fraud.
The Office of Transformation—charged with maintaining SSA’s digital infrastructure—is in the process of cutting half its IT workforce, worsening access for online users. Meanwhile, the SSA’s administrative costs represent only 0.5% of its total budget, raising questions about the need for such sweeping changes.
Real People, Real Impact
The amicus brief emphasizes the devastating human cost of DOGE’s mismanagement. For many seniors and people with disabilities, Social Security is a financial lifeline that makes food, housing, and healthcare possible. The program is also a gateway to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP benefits.
A recent survey by the National Academy of Social Insurance found that 42% of seniors said they could not afford food, clothing, or shelter without their Social Security checks. As of December 2024, nearly 90% of Americans aged 65 and older were receiving Social Security, with about 40% relying on it for at least half of their income. Among women, 15% depend on Social Security for 90% or more of their income.
The plaintiffs argue that the cuts violate the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the First and Fifth Amendments by limiting access for people with disabilities and disrupting vital services.
“The Trump administration claims that it’s making the Social Security Administration more efficient, but in reality, these seemingly-arbitrary layoffs and office closures are throwing it into chaos,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Millions of Americans, including more than 2 million Illinoisans, rely on Social Security benefits to pay for everyday necessities. I join my fellow attorneys general in calling for a stop to this mismanagement that is putting the benefits they are entitled to at risk.”
“You can’t afford your life or live with dignity, safety, and respect when an unelected billionaire and his tech bros yank your hard-earned Social Security out from under you on the basis of lies,” Minnesota Attorney General Ellison said. “I will not let this Administration continue to flout the law and deliberately harm the 1.1 million Minnesotans and 69 million Americans who rely on Social Security to afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect. Social Security is fundamental to American society and I will not hesitate to do everything I can to protect it.”
“Instead of protecting the Social Security benefits that millions of Americans count on every day, President Trump and Elon Musk are taking a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration. Because of these reckless and illegal cuts, New Jerseyans are now facing unacceptable disruptions and delays to their Social Security benefits,” said New Jersey Attorney General Platkin. “New Jerseyans deserve better than to have their retirements thrown into chaos by an unelected billionaire who is destroying a critical safety net with zero accountability for his actions. We will continue to stand up for New Jersey residents and the retirements that they have earned, and we will continue to defend Social Security against these damaging attacks.”
A National Legal Effort
Maryland joins a coalition of states led by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Their collective brief underscores the SSA’s essential role and warns that DOGE’s actions are already straining state-level safety net programs, particularly in rural areas and underserved communities, where in-person assistance is often the only access point for many Americans.
Moving to Protect the Public
“We’re taking action to ensure benefits continue uninterrupted,” said Brown. “This isn’t just about systems and offices—it’s about people who rely on Social Security to survive. We won’t let reckless ideology dismantle a program that millions depend on.”
The case continues in federal court as advocates and officials fight to preserve the stability and integrity of the Social Security system in the face of unprecedented political disruption.
