On Wednesday, acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Lee Dudek sought to correct the record over recent reporting on the activities and findings of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) relating to his agency.
Elon Musk, who according to the White House directs the actions of DOGE as an advisor to the President rather than an employee of the agency with “actual or formal authority,” recently claimed that Social Security payments were being made to people with recorded ages up to 150.
According to Mr. Dudek, however, these purported cases of fraud are in fact merely “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,” Mr. Dudek asserted.
However, Mr. Dudek welcomed the efforts of DOGE, calling the organization “a critical part of President Trump's commitment to identifying fraud, waste, and abuse.” He reassured that DOGE personnel are not able to make changes to “agency systems, benefit payments, or other information.” They are allowed read only access, except when it comes to data relating to restraining orders from the courts, Mr. Dudek said.
“DOGE personnel must follow the law and if they violate the law they will be referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution,” he vowed.
Nevertheless, as the Social Security Administration awaits the determination of the Senate on the appointment of Frank Bisignanao as the next commissioner, the man currently at the helm seems pleased with the work of DOGE, despite the false information disseminated by the agency's public face.
Advertisements
