The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is gaining increasing control over the Social Security Administration (SSA), causing concern even for the agency’s Trump-aligned acting commissioner.
Leland Dudek privately warned that Elon Musk and his team are on track to make serious mistakes.
“I rely on experienced career staff for guidance, but decisions are made without my input. According to The Washington Post, I am still required to implement them,” Dudek said in a staff meeting on Tuesday.
He described Musk’s associates as “outsiders unfamiliar with the nuances of SSA programs” and cautioned that their aggressive tactics could negatively impact the 73 million Americans who rely on Social Security benefits, the Post reported.
Despite his concerns, Dudek suggested DOGE’s team should be given a chance. “They are still learning and will make mistakes, but we need to let them observe how SSA operates,” he told staff.
Dudek, who has been acting commissioner for just two weeks, has been outspoken about inefficiencies within the SSA, criticizing bureaucratic stagnation and a lack of service improvements.
Previously a mid-level staffer, he was promoted after cooperating with DOGE’s information requests. Meanwhile, Trump’s official nominee for the role, Frank Bisigano, is still awaiting Senate confirmation.
Last month, Dudek announced a reduction of over 7,000 SSA jobs, despite staffing already being at a 50-year low. However, even he finds DOGE’s approach reckless, telling staff the agency is operating in a way he has “never seen in government before.”
While the president has vowed to protect Social Security as part of his broader efforts to reshape federal agencies, Musk appears intent on overhauling the program.
His team has reportedly attempted to access sensitive SSA data, and Musk has openly criticized Social Security, calling it “the greatest Ponzi scheme of all time.” He has also spread false claims about the agency, including allegations that Social Security payments are sent to deceased individuals.
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