Most people in Grand County can’t see first-hand the damage that’s being done by DOGE and Team Trump at the Social Security Administration.

I live in Grand County and used to work for the Social Security Administration, and I’m still in touch with people who do work there. What I’ve learned is that most career executives have chosen to retire and take a pension. The most senior management positions will be filled with political appointees who know nothing about the agency and the multifaceted missions it serves.

The administration maintains wage and self-employment records for Grand County residents. It’s these records that are used to compute benefit amounts when a person in Grand County files for retirement or disability, survivor or family benefits. This function is closely tied to IRS record-keeping.

In addition, the administration pays about 60 million people retirement, disability, family and Social Security benefits. These are monthly checks to folks in Grand County, and the payment system is highly automated. Any disruption to this payment system could be disastrous.

I’m afraid of what’s going to happen as the chaos expands. If you are one of the Grand County residents that depend on the Social Security Administration for a monthly check, you may be affected. The administration affects everyone. Your aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors and friends are going to be affected.

If this is going on at the Social Security Administration, it is for sure going on in other federal agencies like the IRS. Are you anxiously waiting for your tax refund? What if there is no one to call if you need help with your return? What if you never receive your refund check?

I am not saying change is not needed. It is. But there are orderly ways to make change, and that is not what is happening right now.