The top official at the Social Security Administration, Michelle King, has stepped down after Elon Musk’s team sought access to sensitive personal data about millions of Americans. King was made acting commissioner in January and had previously risen through the ranks from a bilingual claims representative in 1994.
King’s departure is the latest backlash against the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to access private data as part of an effort to root out fraud and waste. Musk’s team has been embedding with agencies across the federal government, seeking access to private data.
The Social Security Administration holds extensive personal information about Americans, including financial data, employment information, and addresses. King had resisted granting access to this data, citing privacy concerns.
Critics warn that gaining access to such sensitive information could lead to a serious breach. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, described the situation as “too serious to overstate.” Martin O’Malley, a former commissioner of the Social Security Administration, also disputed Musk’s claims about the agency’s data, saying they were “making things up.”
The Senate has yet to take up the nomination of Frank Bisignano, Trump’s pick to oversee the agency. Meanwhile, Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, said that President Trump is committed to appointing qualified individuals who will work on behalf of the American people.
Musk’s team has also been seeking access to sensitive data at other agencies, including the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service. The White House confirmed this weekend that Musk’s team was gaining access to taxpayer information from the tax collection agency.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/us/politics/social-security-musk-team-access.html