Rich Couture

We could lose potentially 50% of our workforce to attrition. 30% of our members are eligible to retire right now. Others would just seek other employment, leave the agency altogether.

Our 800-number workers don't ever see anybody in person. They answer the phones all day. Every call they take is monitored, how long they're on that call, how long they're not on the phone. Everything is tracked. Everything is monitored. They know how productive those workers are.

especially if they're closing offices, especially if we're shutting staff. And I think the American people need to start asking questions in terms of whether that's in their interest. Do they want to talk to a human being when they want to file for their retirement benefits, or do they want to talk to a robot?

So most field office workers, hearing office workers, teleservice center workers, payment center workers... Most of those positions are exempt.