Social Security Shakeup: Nominee's Promises Amid Privacy Concerns

Frank Bisignano, Trump's nominee for overseeing the Social Security Administration, vows to review its computer systems and potentially reverse staff cuts initiated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Concerns arise from alleged privacy law violations and the impact of significant staffing reductions on benefit distribution efficiency.

Frank Bisignano, nominee to oversee the Social Security Administration (SSA), has pledged a comprehensive review of the agency's computer systems amid privacy concerns. Under scrutiny is the alleged "unbridled access" that tech billionaire Elon Musk's aides had to the SSA's vast databases, raising alarms about potential privacy violations.

At a Senate confirmation hearing, Bisignano, a seasoned Wall Street executive, indicated his readiness to reverse staff cuts, part of the broader cost-reduction efforts led by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. The SSA, responsible for disbursing $1.4 trillion annually to millions of elderly and disabled Americans, faces significant staffing cuts, causing distress among employees and advocates worried about disruptions to benefit payments.

Despite the push for efficiency, Bisignano, also CEO of financial tech firm Fiserv, advocated using artificial intelligence to enhance agency operations. As the confirmation process progresses, questions about the timeline, privacy compliance, and potential privatization of the agency linger. Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo dismissed Democratic concerns about cuts as mere "scare tactics."

(With inputs from agencies.)