**Elon Musk’s DOGE Now Focusing on Social Security Administration, Chief Official Resigns**
Following an assertive campaign for access to the Treasury Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has now turned its attention to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency’s acting commissioner, Michelle King, unexpectedly resigned after declining to provide DOGE access to the extensive database holding personal information on millions of Americans.
### Leadership Transition at the SSA
Michelle King, who spent over 30 years at the SSA, stepped down this past weekend. Reports, including one from *The New York Times*, indicate that King opted to resign rather than hand DOGE the “keys to the kingdom.”
Her interim successor, Leland Dudek, previously managed the agency’s anti-fraud division. On LinkedIn, Dudek voiced support for DOGE’s aims to eliminate waste and fraud, indicating a readiness to collaborate. The potential permanent successor is Frank Bisignano, CEO of payment processing leader Fiserv and a former executive at JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup. Bisignano still requires Senate affirmation, but considerable opposition is not anticipated.
### Why Is DOGE Targeting the SSA?
The Social Security Administration provides retirement benefits to Americans who have contributed to the system through payroll taxes. In 2024, the SSA disbursed around [$1.5 trillion](https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/072401.pdf), which represents one-fifth of federal expenditure. An audit conducted from 2015 to 2022 revealed that roughly $72 billion—less than 1% of total benefits—was lost to fraud, mainly due to improper payments.
Despite this relatively small fraud rate, Musk has consistently asserted that the SSA is plagued with corruption. During a White House meeting, he alleged that individuals born 150 years ago were still receiving benefits. He reiterated this claim on X (formerly Twitter), though the post was subsequently removed.
SSA commissioner Martin O’Malley, a former governor of Maryland, dismissed Musk’s assertions as unfounded.
### Why Did King Decline DOGE Access?
DOGE is pursuing access to the SSA’s internal data, which encompasses sensitive details such as addresses, banking information, medical history, earnings statements, and employment records. Two unnamed sources informed *The New York Times* that this data is “comprehensive” and could be abused if it fell into the wrong hands.
It remains uncertain whether DOGE has already gained any of this information or how many individuals within the agency may have access to it.
Nancy Altman, president of the nonprofit Social Security Works, cautioned in *Kiplinger’s* that permitting DOGE access could endanger millions of Americans, particularly the elderly, to hackers and scammers. She also expressed concerns that the data could be weaponized against perceived political opponents, potentially erasing individuals’ earnings records and obstructing them from receiving Social Security or Medicare benefits.
### Why Musk and DOGE Are Generating Concerns
Many of the individuals leading DOGE are [young and inexperienced](https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-doge-college-student-takeover), predominantly in their 20s and lacking previous government experience. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has identified some of Musk’s advisors as former interns of his.
Musk himself, acting as a special advisor, presents a significant conflict of interest, as his companies—such as SpaceX and Tesla—are awarded [billions of dollars in government contracts](https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-doge-access-data). In an apparent effort to mitigate this concern, White House Office of Administration director Joshua Fisher recently clarified that [Musk is not an official DOGE employee](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c9vmzvz9ez0t) but serves as a senior advisor to the president. However, Fisher did not clarify who is officially overseeing DOGE, contributing to the ambiguity regarding the agency’s leadership and goals.