The acting commissioner of the #SocialSecurity Administration left her job this weekend after a clash with billionaire #ElonMusk’s US #DOGE Service over its attempts to access sensitive government records, 3 people familiar with her departure said Monday.

Michelle King, who spent several decades at the agency before being named its acting commissioner last month, left her position Sunday after the disagreement, the people said.

#law #privacy #Trump #InfoSec

#Trump appointed Leland Dudek, a manager in charge of #SocialSecurity’s anti-fraud office, as acting commissioner while Frank Bisignano, Trump’s nom for permanent commissioner, is vetted by the Senate, acc/to 3 individuals…. A public announcement is expected this week. Dudek had posted positive remarks on #socialmedia about #DOGE’s efforts to cut costs and search for fraud in federal agencies, acc/to 2 of the individuals. [that’s all it takes in this admin💨🍑]

#law #privacy #ElonMusk #InfoSec

In selecting Dudek, #Trump bypassed dozens of other senior executives who sat higher in the agency’s leadership hierarchy, touching off alarm in & around the agency, which has already faced years of budget & staffing difficulties.

“At this rate, they will break it. And they will break it fast, & there will be an interruption of #benefits,” said Martin O’Malley, the #SocialSecurity commissioner under the Biden admin & a fmr Maryland governor.

#law #PersonalFinance #privacy #ElonMusk #InfoSec

“It’s a shame…to disregard 120 senior executive service people,” O’Malley said. “To pick an acting commissioner that is not in the senior executive service sends a message that professional people should leave….”
On #FauxNews on Mon evening, WH press sec Leavitt said she had been fighting “fake news reporters” who had been trying to “fearmonger” about #SocialSecurity payments. Leavitt said #Trump had directed #ElonMusk only to ID “fraud”…, & that seniors’ retirement #benefits would be protected.

The #SocialSecurity Administration is responsible for managing #pension payments for >70 million American #seniors & manages significant troves of personal #data, including those related to Americans’ work & pay history, & where they live. It was not immediately clear precisely which data #ElonMusk associates wanted or the exact circumstances leading to King’s departure.

#law #privacy #Trump #InfoSec #PersonalFinance

#ElonMusk’s associates already sought access to records that are typically closely held across the federal #government, prompting disputes w/senior officials across numerous #FederalAgencies. The highest-ranking civil servant at the #Treasury Dept recently resigned after refusing to grant #DOGE access to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which manages >$5R in annual payments.

#law #privacy #Trump #InfoSec #PersonalFinance

On Sunday, WaPo reported that #DOGE is seeking access to a heavily guarded system at the #IRS w/detailed #financial #information about every #taxpayer, #business & #nonprofit in the country, & #ElonMusk’s associates have also sought access to sensitive information at the #Labor Dept.

#law #privacy #Trump #InfoSec #PersonalFinance

“What I know is that #DOGE wanted access to #SSA’s sensitive files — the same way they’re trying to do at #Labor & #Treasury — & the acting commissioner wouldn’t give it, & she was replaced,” said Nancy Altman, president of #SocialSecurity Works….

#ElonMusk has increasingly turned his attention to Social Security in recent days, arguing that the program is rife with fraud & erroneous payments without offering evidence for his claim.

#law #privacy #Trump #InfoSec #PersonalFinance

King, a career staffer, has worked at the agency since 1994, per the agency’s website. She has held snr positions in its Office of #Retirement & #Disability Policy & the Office of #Budget, #Finance & Mgmt.

The #SocialSecurity Admin’s records include all SSNs, comprehensive #medical records for those who have applied for disability #benefits, #bank info, earnings records & more…

“There is no way to overstate how serious a breach this is,” she said.

#law #privacy #ElonMusk #Trump #InfoSec