Vermont’s Social Security Services at Risk as SSA Field Office Staffing Hits 59-Year Low 

Montpelier, VT — Last week, members of Congress met with representatives of AFGE Council 220, the union representing more than 25,000 front‑line Social Security employees nationwide, to discuss the growing crisis inside the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

Despite the Administration’s public claims that it has no plans to close Social Security field offices, newly released workforce data paints a far more troubling picture: community-based services are quietly being eroded due to steep staffing losses. 

The impact in Vermont is particularly severe. With only 36 active SSA field office workers statewide, Vermont now faces a staggering 1:4800 ratio of field office employees to beneficiaries, one of the most challenging workloads in the nation. 

Over the past year, the SSA has lost approximately 6,500 employees, reducing the agency to its lowest staffing level in 59 years. A new report from the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) highlights the depth of these cuts, particularly in field offices. Between March 2024 and August 2025, the SSA lost 1,862 field office workers—a 9% nationwide decline—leaving only 19,731 active workers serving millions of Americans across the country. 

“These cuts aren’t abstract,” said Jessica LaPointe, President of AFGE Council 220. “They translate directly into longer wait times, delayed benefits, and reduced access for people who depend on Social Security every day.” 

As Congress continues oversight of SSA operations, Vermont’s delegation and community leaders warn that without immediate action to restore staffing and stabilize field office operations, rural and vulnerable communities will bear the brunt of the crisis. 

About AFGE Council 220: 

AFGE Council 220 represents 25,000 front-line Social Security workers in SSA field operations through 34 affiliate locales representing workers in 1,200 field offices and 21 tele-service centers nationwide.