Two top officials at the Social Security Administration (SSA) have stepped down after a clash with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over access to beneficiary data. The departures highlight DOGE’s aggressive efforts to uncover fraud and waste in government programs.
Key Facts:
- SSA’s acting commissioner, Michelle King, and deputy commissioner, Tiffany Flick, have left their positions following a dispute with DOGE over data access.
- DOGE, led by Elon Musk, is investigating potential fraud and abuse in federal programs, including claims that benefits are still being paid to individuals listed as over 150 years old.
- King refused to grant DOGE access to SSA’s sensitive data, leading to her replacement by career anti-fraud official Leland Dudek.
- Trump stated that King “have to get fired” and emphasized his administration’s commitment to reforming government agencies.
- Critics argue DOGE’s actions violate civil service protections, while supporters believe they are necessary to root out inefficiencies.
The Rest of The Story:
The shake-up at the SSA follows DOGE’s broader mission to streamline government operations and eliminate fraud.
The White House replaced Michelle King with a lower-ranking official after she refused to provide DOGE with access to Social Security’s database of 70 million beneficiaries.
Rather than accept a demotion, King chose to retire, according to Nancy Altman of Social Security Works.
The White House did not officially comment on the circumstances surrounding King and Flick’s departures but confirmed that Leland Dudek, an anti-fraud expert, is now in charge while Trump’s nominee, Frank Bisignano, awaits Senate confirmation.
Trump has criticized SSA’s handling of fraud, questioning how beneficiaries listed as being over 150 years old could still be receiving payments.
Trump: Millions of Social Security Payments Going to People Over 120 Years Old!
– Ages 120-129: 3.47 million
– Ages 130-139: 3.94 million
– Ages 140-149: 3.54 million
– Ages 150-159: 1.35 million pic.twitter.com/mVd4n4T2kf— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 18, 2025
Meanwhile, former Biden administration Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley dismissed DOGE’s findings, claiming they are misinterpreting the data.
“They don’t understand what they’re looking at. And that’s why they shouldn’t be looking at it,” O’Malley told Bloomberg.
Commentary:
The uproar over DOGE’s investigation is revealing. While critics claim Musk’s team is overstepping, their findings suggest deep-seated inefficiencies in government agencies.
If Social Security payments are being made to individuals supposedly over 150 years old, taxpayers have every reason to demand answers.
Government waste is not a conspiracy theory—it’s a reality.
Agencies like the SSA have long resisted transparency, and when someone comes in asking tough questions, the response is often to stonewall or discredit the investigators.
King’s refusal to cooperate with DOGE raises a simple question: What was she trying to hide?
The Biden-era commissioner’s dismissal of DOGE’s concerns is just as telling. O’Malley claims they “don’t understand what they’re looking at.”
But shouldn’t a government agency welcome oversight rather than push it away? His argument sounds less like a defense of Social Security’s integrity and more like an attempt to deflect scrutiny.
DOGE’s mission is not about accessing private citizen data—it’s about ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.
The backlash from entrenched bureaucrats and unions suggests that waste and fraud are more widespread than many would like to admit.
With Trump pushing for reforms, agencies may no longer be able to operate with unchecked inefficiency.
The SSA shake-up is just one example of the resistance facing efforts to clean up Washington, but the public deserves to know where their money is going.
The Bottom Line:
The resignation of top Social Security officials after refusing DOGE access raises serious questions about government transparency.
The claim that benefits are being paid to people who should have been dead for decades is alarming.
Whether DOGE’s findings lead to reforms or continued resistance will determine if taxpayer dollars are finally being protected—or if Washington’s wasteful status quo continues.
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