Senators had a lot of questions Tuesday for Frank Bisignano, the president's nominee for Social Security commissioner — but hovering over it all was the specter of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

Trump has said repeatedly that the administration “won’t touch” Social Security, a promise that aides say applies to benefit levels that can be adjusted only by Congress. But in just six weeks, the cuts to staffing and offices have already taken a toll on access to benefits, officials and advocates say.