# Social Security Administration 

[Back to Downsizing Government](/downsizing-government) 

##### Blog Posts 

##### [Offset Emergency Spending](/blog/offset-emergency-spending) 

By [Dominik Lett](https://www.cato.org/people/dominik-lett) 

### [Timeline: Social Security Administration](/downsizing-government-essay/social-security-administration-timeline)

Explore a historical timeline of the Social Security Administration, detailing major reforms, benefit expansions, and fiscal developments across its history.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/social-security-administration-timeline) 

##### Social Security Administration Spending 

[![Social Security Administration Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/SocialSecurityAdministrationOutlays.png?itok=5N5D9ZFe)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG016) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG016), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### Featured Content 

[![Social Security 16x9](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2024-03/social-security-money-cropped.jpg?itok=fUac6P3w)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/reforming-social-security-retirement) 

Study 

### [Reforming Social Security Retirement](/downsizing-government-essay/reforming-social-security-retirement) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and [Michael D. Tanner](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-d-tanner) 

Social Security faces a huge financing gap because of its pay-as-you-go structure and the aging of the population. It should be transitioned to a system of personal savings accounts, which would increase financial security and help to avert future tax increases.

[![Social Security Disability Insurance ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-530607573.jpg?itok=YdWOR9Xf)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/rising-cost-social-security-disability-insurance) 

Study 

### [The Rising Cost of Social Security Disability Insurance](/downsizing-government-essay/rising-cost-social-security-disability-insurance) 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) 

Growing numbers of Americans are receiving disability benefits, and the system is subject to major abuses. Policymakers should tighten eligibility for the program and explore ways to move it to the private sector.

[![Social Security](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-495600910.jpg?itok=P15vhGYJ)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/supplemental-security-income-costly-troubled-welfare-program) 

Study 

### [Supplemental Security Income: A Costly and Troubled Welfare Program](/downsizing-government-essay/supplemental-security-income-costly-troubled-welfare-program) 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) 

This program for low-income and disabled individuals suffers from similar abuses as Disability Insurance. The financing and administration of Supplemental Security Income should be devolved to the states.

[![Downsizing Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2025-05/Downsizing%20Gov.png?itok=4YAi4cGI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

##### About 

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at [cedwards@​cato.​org](mailto:cedwards@cato.org) with questions or comments.

[Information on the data sources for our charts.](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts?showAbout=true)