WASHINGTON – The head of the Social Security Administration has abruptly resigned after a dramatic standoff with Elon Musk’s government efficiency team, DOGE, over access to sensitive American records, sources say.
Michelle King, the acting commissioner of Social Security, stepped down over the weekend, ending a 30-year career overseeing benefits for 73 million Americans. The White House confirmed her resignation, as President Donald Trump swiftly replaced her with Leland Dudek, a longtime leader in Social Security’s anti-fraud division.
Trump’s administration is now pushing for Senate confirmation of Frank Bisignano, the CEO of Fiserv, to take over the agency permanently. “President Trump has nominated the highly qualified and talented Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration, and we expect him to be swiftly confirmed in the coming weeks,” White House spokesman Harrison Fields announced.
The shake-up comes as Musk’s DOGE task force aggressively targets federal agencies, aiming to slash spending and dismantle bureaucracy. In a move that has alarmed many, DOGE recently requested direct access to IRS computer systems, which hold massive amounts of private financial data.
Dudek, the new acting commissioner, has publicly praised Musk’s efforts, previously endorsing DOGE’s crackdown on government fraud. Musk himself has claimed that Social Security is plagued by massive fraud, even alleging—without evidence—that payments have gone out to Americans listed as being 150 years old.
Despite rising concerns, the White House is pushing back against any suggestion that Musk’s team could threaten Social Security benefits. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed media reports as “fearmongering,” insisting that Trump’s directive is focused purely on uncovering waste and duplicate payments.
“Rest assured,” Leavitt told Fox News, “if you paid into the system honestly, you will continue to receive your Social Security checks.”
