MELBOURNE, Fla. – More federal spending cuts are impacting Central Florida. This time, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is closing office space for Social Security.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, and close ally of President Trump, also has the support of Brevard County’s congressman.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Brevard County) talked about DOGE cuts last week during a visit to Port Canaveral.
“Look, there’s gonna be some tough cuts here,” he said. “I don’t disagree at all.”
DOGE said it’s closing the Social Security office on Dairy Road in Melbourne on May 16.
There’s a full-service Social Security office 4 miles away on NASA Boulevard that is staying open. The smaller Dairy Road office is where people who want benefits go if they have a hearing or an appeal.
DOGE said closing the office will save $263,000.
“DOGE is really identifying a lot of waste,” Haridopolos said.
In a statement, the congressman said the location was only used about once a week, and the hearings were mostly done virtually or over the phone.
News 6 received the following statement from Rep. Haridopolos:
“After speaking directly with the Social Security Administration, my team has confirmed that the facility in question, the location at Dairy Road is not a full-service SSA office, but a remote hearing room used for appeals, a process now conducted mostly by phone or virtual meeting. In fact, according to the SSA, this location was used only 54 times last year. Its closure will not affect anyone’s benefits, nor does it reduce services. SSA hearing rooms will still be available nearby, and the main office serving this region at 1715 W NASA Blvd, Melbourne, remains fully operational just 11 minutes away. This move saves taxpayer dollars without reducing a single benefit. Social Security is an earned benefit, and I’m fully committed to ensuring that every Floridian who has paid into this system receives what they’ve earned. If you or a loved one in Brevard County are having trouble with your payments, my office is here to help.”
Rep. Haridopolos
DOGE has supporters and critics, too. A group protested this month at an Orlando TESLA dealership. Armed with more anti-Elon Musk signs, there have also been protesters this month at the Merritt Island TESLA dealer.
“Mr. Musk is a danger to this country, and I want the public to know that,” one protester said on March 8.
About Social Security, Haridopolos said he’s protecting it as a whole.
“We are going to make sure that two programs are not cut,” he said. “Those are Social Security and Medicare. Those are promises made and we must keep for generations to come.”
DOGE’s website shows another federal agency closing its doors in Melbourne.
A tiny Small Business Administration location is being closed, too. DOGE said it should save taxpayers thousands more.