Social Security Official Resigns After Dispute With DOGE Over Sensitive Data

Michelle King, head of the Social Security Administration, has resigned after refusing to grant Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive government records. The White House spokesperson Harrison Fields confirmed her departure, announcing that President Trump has nominated Frank Bisignano as her replacement.

Fields said, “President 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." 

DOGE’s Data Request

DOGE, created to eliminate inefficiencies in government operations, requested access to a wide range of personal data, including Americans’ Social Security numbers, earnings history, marital status, bank details, and disability records. The request raised major privacy concerns, leading King to refuse compliance.

Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, a group focused on protecting Social Security, criticized the request. 

“I don’t think you can overstate how serious this breach is,” she said. “The information that the Social Security Administration has is a lot of personal data that most people would like to keep private and they entrusted to the government through tax returns and through their employers sending in earning statements. The assumption is that the government will be very careful with it.”

Altman also claimed that King was replaced because she refused to comply with DOGE’s request. However, the White House insists that King chose to step down voluntarily.

Concerns Over Government Access

This is not the first time DOGE has been criticized for accessing sensitive information. The agency recently attempted to access IRS records and the Treasury Department’s payment system, leading to lawsuits. A judge temporarily blocked DOGE officials from retrieving confidential financial data.

Despite the controversy, the White House defended DOGE’s actions, stating its goal is to identify fraud within government agencies. However, a government report found that less than 1% of Social Security payments were improper between 2015 and 2022.

Trump continues to support DOGE’s efforts, emphasizing the need to reduce government waste. Meanwhile, concerns over privacy and executive overreach continue to grow.

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