Washington, D.C. — Democracy Forward filed suit today against the Social Security Administration (SSA) to compel the release of public records about major service disruptions and policy changes that have left millions of Americans – including seniors and people with disabilities – struggling to access the benefits they rely on and are entitled to.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeks to enforce the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) after the SSA failed to respond to multiple requests for records that would shed light on sweeping internal changes and customer service breakdowns under the Trump-Vance administration. These changes include workforce reductions, cuts to over-the-phone services, and the removal of key customer service metrics from SSA’s website — moves that have reportedly fueled long wait times, payment delays, and confusion for beneficiaries in vulnerable situations.

Democracy Forward submitted a series of FOIA requests beginning in July 2025, seeking internal memos, communications, and data about the impact of the administration’s restructuring policies. Despite statutory deadlines, the SSA has failed to provide determinations or release the requested records. This refusal keeps the public in the dark about decisions that affect over 74 million Americans who depend on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program that provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources.

“Millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and families rely on Social Security to make ends meet, yet the Trump-Vance administration has degraded access to these critical benefits while refusing to explain why,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “When government actions threaten the stability of one of our nation’s most important safety net programs, transparency isn’t optional — it’s essential. We’re taking action to demand accountability and ensure the public knows what’s happening behind closed doors.”

The lawsuit asks the court to order the SSA to search for and release all non-exempt records related to these service disruptions, grant fee waivers that support the public’s right to know, and stop withholding information vital to understanding the impact of the administration’s actions.

The case is Democracy Forward Foundation v. SSA, and the legal team in this case includes Dan McGrath, Amy Vickery, and Robin Thurston. 

Read the complaint here.