On Tuesday, Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Social Security Administration (SSA), sought to distance himself from the actions taken by agency officials affiliated with Elon Musk and the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This comes as the SSA manages an annual budget exceeding $1.5 trillion, providing essential services to over 70 million Americans.
During a hearing with the Senate Finance Committee, Bisignano emphasized his intention to conduct a comprehensive review of the SSA's activities should he be confirmed. When questioned about DOGE's involvement in developing agency systems and databases, he firmly stated, “I will conduct a total review of the activities at the SSA.” He also clarified that he had never communicated with the acting SSA Commissioner, Leland Dudek, who is reportedly associated with Musk's team.
Last week, Dudek threatened to shut down the SSA after a federal judge blocked DOGE officials from accessing critical databases. This threat was retracted following a clarification from the judge, indicating that Dudek had misunderstood the ruling. Under scrutiny from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bisignano acknowledged having communicated with Mike Russo, the agency's chief information officer, who has ties to DOGE's initiatives at the SSA. Despite this, Bisignano insisted, “I don’t know him as a DOGE person.”
Currently serving as the CEO of Fiserv, a financial data and payment processing company, Bisignano argued that his extensive private sector experience would enhance the quality and speed of services provided by the SSA. He characterized Social Security as “the most bipartisan thing we have” and firmly denied any thoughts of privatizing the agency, stating, “It’s not a word that anybody’s ever talked to me about.” In discussions with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), he reiterated that the SSA is a government agency dedicated to serving the American public.
Democrats have raised alarms regarding the Trump administration's handling of the SSA, suggesting that measures such as designating field offices for closure, terminating staff members, and requiring in-person identity verification are aimed at undermining the agency. Sen. Wyden contended that these actions are a precursor to privatizing Social Security and transferring it to private equity interests.
During the hearing, Bisignano was questioned about comments made by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on a podcast, where he downplayed the significance of missing payments from the SSA. Bisignano countered, “I don't think anyone would appreciate not getting their Social Security check on time.” When Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) pressed him further about the potential implications of such comments, he responded, “It would be hard to get to that conclusion.”
When asked to comment on Elon Musk’s characterization of the program as a “Ponzi scheme,” Bisignano maintained that Social Security constitutes “a promise to pay.” Furthermore, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sought a commitment from Bisignano to investigate the recent layoffs at the agency, questioning the wisdom of reducing staff in a system already deemed ineffective. Bisignano agreed, stating, “I think the answer is probably no.”
Some Republican senators defended the actions taken by DOGE at the SSA and expressed optimism that the administration would enhance services and maintain accessibility for beneficiaries. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) highlighted the challenges faced by constituents attempting to reach the SSA through phone services, sharing his staff's struggles with long wait times. Bisignano assured the committee, “We will meet beneficiaries where they want to be met, whether that’s in person, in an office, online, or on the phone.”
In past statements, Bisignano has indicated a desire to leverage artificial intelligence to identify fraud within the SSA, a concern that Musk has previously highlighted as significant. As the nomination process continues, the future of the SSA and its operations remains a topic of critical importance for millions of Americans relying on its services.
