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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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Lee Dudek, the new acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, has issued a statement addressing concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency's work at the agency.
Dudek reiterated the agency's commitment to transparency in a statement on Wednesday, saying DOGE staffers will not be able make changes to agency systems, benefit payments or other information.
The SSA has been contacted for comment via email. DOGE has been contacted for comment via a message on X.
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Why It Matters
Dudek was appointed acting commissioner by President Donald Trump following Michelle King's resignation Sunday. It was reported that she refused to provide DOGE staffers at the SSA with access to sensitive information.
Since Trump's return to the White House, his billionaire ally Elon Musk has dug deep into federal agencies through DOGE, a task force that has been charged with finding ways to cut spending, slash regulations and fire federal workers. But DOGE's access to government payment systems and personal information has sparked concerns about security risks and missed payments, while Democrats have expressed frustration about the lack of transparency and accountability.
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What To Know
Dudek's statement said he wanted to be "very clear" about the role of the DOGE staffers working at the SSA.
"DOGE personnel CANNOT make changes to agency systems, benefit payments or other information. They only have READ access," he said. "DOGE personnel do not have access to data related to a court ordered temporary restraining order, current or future."
He added that DOGE personnel "must follow the law and if they violate the law they will be referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution."
DOGE is a "a critical part of President Trump's commitment to identifying fraud, waste and abuse, and better ways for the government to function to support its people," Dudek said.
But he said the SSA's "continuing priority is paying beneficiaries the right amount at the right time, and providing other critical services people rely on from us."
Dudek's statement also contradicted claims promoted by Trump and Musk that tens of millions of dead people are receiving Social Security payments.
"The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits," he said.
What People Are Saying
Dudek also said in his statement: "I am confident that with DOGE's help and the commitment of our executive team and workforce, that Social Security will continue to deliver for the American people."
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement posted on X on Monday night that Trump "has nominated the highly qualified and talented Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration, and we expect him to be swiftly confirmed in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the agency will be led by a career Social Security anti-fraud expert as the acting commissioner."
Musk wrote on X on Wednesday: "There ARE good people in the government who want to eliminate fraud & waste. Amazingly, Leland was fired by Social Security Administration upper management for helping @DOGE find taxpayer savings. Can you believe that?? Thanks to President Trump, Leland was brought back right away and now HE is upper management."
He added: "Promote good players, exit bad players. That's the right thing to do."
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group dedicated to protecting and expanding Social Security, said in a statement—titled Elon Musk is Stealing Your Personal Social Security Data—on Monday: "The information collected and securely held by the Social Security Administration is highly sensitive... Older people are disproportionately susceptible to scams. The data at SSA leaking would make the numbers of scams skyrocket. And, if there is an intent to punish perceived enemies, someone could erase your earnings record, making it impossible to collect the Social Security and Medicare benefits you have earned. There is no way to overstate how serious a breach this is. And my understanding is that it has already occurred."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News on Monday that she had been fighting "fake news reporters" who had been trying to "fearmonger" that the administration was "going after" Social Security benefits.
The president "has directed Elon Musk and the DOGE team to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration," she added.
What's Next
DOGE's attention has turned to the SSA, but it's not yet clear if any changes will be made.
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