Social Security Workers are not allowed to read this story

Social Security Administration (SSA) employees were informed on Thursday morning that the new rules were prohibited from gaining access to “General News” websites, including those who were at the forefront of reporting the so -called Elon Musk Ministry of Government Efficiency (Doge) Effort.

In an email reviewed by Wired and addressed to “all SSA employees” by a mailing list called “internal communications”, the agency informs employees that “applies additional restrictions on the categories of websites prohibited by equipment furnished in the government. In force today, March 6, 2025, the categories include: online shopping; General news; And sports. “The title states” Surfing the Internet from government equipment. “

The email did not specify which websites more special should be blocked. However, Wired confirmed with two sources inside the SSA that Wired.com It is no longer available today, although it was accessible before.

Sources also confirmed that Washington Post, New York Times and MSNBC websites are inaccessible. However, sources had access to other news websites, including Politico and Axios.

“The local news was blocked,” says a source in SSA, which was anonymous because of fears of retribution. “So if there was a local shooting or something, I wouldn’t be able to see.”

It is not clear who has applied the list of blocks or what criteria were used to fill it, but it does not seem to be based on ideological grounds, since Fox News and Breitbart are also blocked.

Friday, weeks after Doge Engineers have been installed in SSA, the agency has announced plans for reduced 7,000 employeesS Many of the most of the agency senior staff have resigned. This includes former SSA Commissioner Michel King, who has decades of experience at the agency. She was replaced by the post -acting Commissioner Leland Dudek, an average employee who claimed to LinkedIn Post, reviewed by Wired that he was punished by King for assisting Doge engineers when they first arrived. Musk and Donald Trump also continue to push the theory of conspiracy that millions of dead continue to collect social security benefits, despite the fact that these allegations were debunkedS

In the hours, after the initial email was sent to block news sites, some employees received another email from their managers providing instructions on how to disable news showing on the EDGE target page. This was not a requirement, but a recommendation to help employees oppose the temptation to click on news links, said a source that received the email, said to Wired.

Those trying to visit Wired.com were greeted with a page replicating much of what was in the original email. It also listed the URL reputation assessment, although it was not clear where this result came from or whether there was a site access camp. Various blocked news websites have received different results, according to the screenshots viewed by Wired.

SSA employees usually use Microsoft EDGE computers installed as an internet browser. The default default page in this browser is set to display news titles, according to several SSA sources.

“Employees with a legitimate business (SIC) must submit an exception to SAM a request to review their manager,” the email continued. “These additional restrictions will help reduce the risk and better protect the sensitive information that is assigned to us in our many systems.”

Of Reddit, multiple members of Fednews Subreddit Who said they worked at SSA claims that access to the news is an essential part of their work in a timely manner. Others have indicated that the ability to make online purchases is a major component of their work.

The SSA did not immediately respond to a request for a comment on the new restrictions. Employees in several other US state agencies related to Wired have said that such blocks of news pages have not been applied to their networks.