A senior official at the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has resigned following a reported clash with employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over access to sensitive personal data.
According to ABC News, Michelle King, a career bureaucrat with over 30 years of service, was the acting commissioner of the SSA before being replaced by Leland Dudek over the weekend.
Sources allege that DOGE employees sought access to the SSA’s internal data system, which contains sensitive personal information about Americans, as part of an effort to reduce government spending.
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, emphasized the extensive nature of the SSA’s data, stating:
“It includes your entire earnings record, benefits details, marital history, and, most critically, medical records for disability applicants.”
Meanwhile, White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields confirmed that Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trump’s nominee for SSA commissioner, is set to be confirmed by the Senate.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told FOX News that Trump had tasked Elon Musk and DOGE with investigating fraud within the SSA. Trump himself recently referred to Musk as his ‘Enforcer-in-Chief’ in a separate interview.
Since taking office on January 20, 2025, Trump has prioritized eliminating fraud and reducing costs across federal agencies, with DOGE spearheading these efforts.