Just why do Social Security “agents” need to be armed? I would assume they are all just bureaucrats and not law enforcement officers so why have them armed? If there is some crime or suspected crime wouldn’t they be working with the FBI or even local police? This is scary.
Because high-stakes fraud happens, and police aren't versed in nuances of the Social Security law someone needs to know to take down a felon-in-progress and not lose key evidence in the process. Those agents are citizens too, and have a right to defend themselves while doing what sometimes is, in fact, a dangerous job. That there's a team of FBI agents present may not be comforting when hot Pb starts flying.
Ditto other agencies. Sometimes they have to deal with serious criminals. I don't begrudge those agents being armed and training appropriately. NOAA, SSA, DHS, etc have a few branches that can get into sticky situations.
Justification does not, of course, preempt all curiosity and concerns though...
to stop Paul Ryan from pushing granny off the cliff.