Acting head of Social Security quits after clash with DOGE over data: Report
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been in the spotlight recently as the acting head, Michelle King, resigned over a disagreement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk. According to reports from the Washington Post, King stepped down after butting heads with DOGE over efforts to access sensitive government records.
In response to King’s departure, President Donald Trump appointed Leland Dudek as the interim head of the SSA while Frank Bisignano undergoes vetting by federal lawmakers for the position of commissioner. White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, Harrison Fields, stated that they expect Bisignano to be swiftly confirmed in the coming weeks.
DOGE, created by executive order as a temporary organization within the White House, is tasked with cutting government waste and inefficiency. One of its recent targets has been the SSA, established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide federal benefits to older Americans.
Elon Musk, leading the charge at DOGE, took to social media to highlight what he claims are millions of people listed in the Social Security database with ages over 100, including some in the 150-159 range. Musk’s post included a chart showing the numbers of individuals in each age bracket with the death field set to FALSE, prompting speculation about potential fraud and errors in the system.
While the U.S. Census Bureau data shows a population count of over 331 million in 2020, the number of individuals aged 100 and older was just over 80,000. Musk’s revelations have raised concerns about the accuracy and integrity of the Social Security database.
As the SSA navigates this controversy, it remains to be seen how the agency will address Musk’s claims and work towards ensuring the proper management of sensitive government records. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
