Why it matters: The switch risks disrupting the finances of some of the most vulnerable Americans at a time when Social Security is cutting back services to help them.
Between the lines: The move is part of a broader White House effort to fight what it considers government waste, fraud and abuse.
The order allows for "limited exceptions," including for people who don't have bank accounts.
Zoom out: Nearly 456,000 Americans still receive paper Social Security checks as of March, per Social Security Administration data.
That's about 0.7% of the approximately 68.2 million total recipients.