The acting leader of the Social Security Administration reportedly instructed managers earlier this week to draw up plans for a 50% cut to the agency's workforce, a push that advocates and lawmakers said would result in the gutting or total closure of local field offices—and likely benefit disruptions.

The Social Security Administration sent termination notices to several dozen employees Thursday, the latest in a long string of mass federal agency layoffs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Federal agencies must develop plans to eliminate employee positions, according to a memo distributed by President Donald Trump ’s administration