U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi has led a letter from the House Ways and Means Committee to Michelle King, the Acting Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner.
The letter raises concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gaining access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems.
DOGE, a group led by billionaire Elon Musk, was assigned by the Trump administration to review U.S. government spending and eliminate fraud.
Reports suggest that in early February, the group obtained access to Treasury Department data, which includes information about millions of American citizens.
Elon Musk’s Claims on Social Security Fraud
Elon Musk has spoken about his concerns regarding fraud in government programs.
On social media platform X, which he owns, Musk stated, “At this point, I am 100% certain that the magnitude of the fraud in federal entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, Disability, etc.) exceeds the combined sum of every private scam you’ve ever heard by FAR.”
Previously, Musk had mentioned that DOGE’s goal is to audit the SSA to stop fraud and protect Social Security payments for “honest Americans.”
Lawmakers Demand Privacy Protections
Suozzi’s letter was signed by 19 Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee, including Ranking Member Richard Neal. The letter emphasizes both the importance of Social Security and the need for strict privacy protections.
“It is impossible to overstate the importance of Social Security benefits to our nation’s people – or the potentially dire consequences if a beneficiary’s personal information is compromised,” the letter states.
The Social Security Administration holds sensitive data, including banking details, home addresses, disability statuses, medical conditions, and Social Security numbers of millions of Americans.
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Public Concerns About Data Security
Suozzi expressed deep concern over DOGE’s access to private information. “My office alone has received more than 1,000 calls from constituents who are afraid Elon Musk and his DOGE team of college-aged kids have unfettered access to their private information,” he said.
He stressed that no organization, including DOGE, should be allowed to handle confidential data without strict oversight.
“No one, including DOGE, should be ransacking the confidential information of private citizens, whether that information relates to their taxes, their healthcare, their Social Security status, or anything else,” Suozzi added.
Request for Immediate Action
The letter calls for Commissioner King to respond within 72 hours. Lawmakers want detailed answers about how SSA is ensuring the security and privacy of citizens’ data.
The issue has sparked a heated debate about balancing government efficiency with personal privacy. Lawmakers and the public now wait for a response from the Social Security Administration on how it plans to handle the situation.
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