Today's "Statement from Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner..." of SSA

[fffred]

Just released today, this informative letter from the new Acting Commissioner of the SSA. 

See https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2025/#2025-02-19

It addresses his own commitment to Social Security's programs, security, and accuracy. It's worthwhile reading his entire brief letter. He addresses DOGE and other current hot topics (eg: those Civil War veterans who are still receiving SS retirement benefits).

"Statement from Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner, about Commitment to Agency Transparency and Protecting Benefits and Information"

[JillD284780]

If you are not extremely concerned about Elon Musk and DOGE you should be. DOGE has nothing to do with making government efficient it is a slash and burn effort to dismantle government services. Elon falsely claimed millions of dead people were receiving social security benefits- that lie had to be walked back - you can find the full story online.   

DOGE shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)- these employees are under a stop work order and not allowed to access their work files. Even more troubling/shocking government CFPB work files are being deleted by DOGE.

If you don’t know much about CFPB they are a small agency (around 1700 employees) charged with protecting the consumer (you and I).  They implement and enforce Federal consumer financial law and ensure that markets for consumer financial products are transparent, fair, and competitive.

They are funded by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve is self-funded and does not receive money from Congress.

The Federal Reserve is funded primarily by interest earned on securities and fees charged to depository institutions.  - No tax payer dollars.  So you have to ask yourself why were they targeted?

Elon’s involvement in DOGE is a conflict of interest nightmare- his companies conduct billions of dollars worth of business with the U.S. government. He should not have access to government data nor should he be determining what services are in the best interests of the taxpayer.

DOGE is not conducting reviews or audits of agencies looking for waste or more efficient ways to conduct business, they are creating chaos, indiscriminately firing people,  and gaslighting the workforce by telling them they were fired for poor performance.  USAID has been shutdown almost completely. There are so many services being impacted - medical research at NIH, food safety at FDA, Medicare/ Medicaid, Veterans Affairs- the list goes on.

[ls3595]

Totally true. And where is AARP in all of this? They should be leading the charge in resisting these criminals in their heist. I've left phone messages and texts, but AARP seems to be hiding. On their website they encourage members to contact their legislators, but say nothing about what they are doing. What the hell??!!!

[Tonster521]

@JillD284780 I suspect that it is a good idea to review all the various agencies to determine what is needed, redundancy, optimal staffing,waste, fraud, and so on. I worked in the private sector in manufacturing wherein competition was global. So, this type of management was common even more so when budgets were developed and adhered to. The private sector does not have the luxury of increasing taxes, fees, etc., and issuing Treasury Bonds to increase the deficit (sort of a credit card with no limit). With regard to the interest paid on the Treasuries, the money is received from Federal Income Taxes (FIT) which is paid by taxpayers both individual and corporate. Other Administrations talked about government efficiency, but did nothing. So, maybe this approach by the Current Administration was needed some time ago. It is a political "third rail".

I am providing more info regarding the the Federal Reserve chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/files/quarterly-report-20241122.pdf This file is large and will inform you of the Fed's sources of income. Please scroll to Supplemental Financial Information No. 7 - Capital and Surplus. Member Banks must buy stock in the Fed. This is not stock that one may buy on a stock exchange. Think of it as a membership fee. Take a look at the history of the Fed including the secret meeting on Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia on 1910. Take note of the names of the attendees. The Federal Reserve Act was enacted in 1913. I still do not know if or how the Fed converted the gold to cash after removing the Gold Standard. Did the Treasury just print money and charge the taxpayers?

[GAKKIEZ]

Your concerns are completely unfounded with false accusations!  Even AARP has assured it's members of that with their latest (dated 20 Feb 2025, on the main AARP website) update.

[BettiS720642]

Note that Social Security Commisioner Lee Dudeck said" “Our continuing priority is paying beneficiaries the right amount at the right time, and providing other critical services people rely on from us." Yet they are cutting Social Security staff by half, and closing local Social Security offices. That would be "providing other critical services people rely on from us." So basically, he lied. Social Security was already underfunded, with long waits for services. Now it will get SO much worse. 
https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-administration-staff-cut-half-2036903

[GailL1]

I haven’t seen any % staff deductions - many workers are retiring but they are due and tired from all the baby boomers applications and processing.  

We do need a lot better programs in the agency - every administration has this on their agenda but then something else takes priority and it gets put on the back burner - This has gone on since the early 2000.  

It is a job you think would be much simpler but since they also do processing for all the Social Security Programs -

• Old Age retirement including spousal,
• Survivors and
• Social Security Disability and for
• Supplemental Security Income (needs based program for those who are blind, old, or disabled and don’t have a Social Security benefit or one that is minimal) and
• Medicare sign ups

They are closing some DDS offices in states but are being either moved to another government owned location or combined with another.  That’s for saving cost on real estate - if we already have a government owned facility close by - why pay rent somewhere else is the rationale.  Perhaps the same for some SSA offices.  

People need to learn the programs of Social Security, Medicare and Supplemental Security Income and then there would not be all the questions - SSA.gov is a great site.  Same with Medicare.gov.

Offices do need to set appointments but people need to be ready for those appointments by bringing what they need to apply for whatever program.  

Do you know how many people just never keep up with their own paperwork - you know the papers you need to keep for your permanent record - birth, death, marriage, divorce, children’s birth, social security card, any name changes etc.

[fffred]

@GailL1    This was put out today. From the horse's mouth, the SSA. "Social Security Announces Workforce and Organization Plans".

From the blog article, "Social Security recently set a staffing target of 50,000, down from the current level of approximately 57,000 employees. Rumor of a 50 percent reduction is false."

https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-announces-workforce-and-organization-plans/

[GailL1]

@fffred Yes I read that on the news releases yesterday - I like reorganization - many times that might just save some rent cost.

I saw that they closed a SSA dept - I read and read and re-read it and I still cannot tell you what they did.  The Office of Transformation.  

https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2025/#2025-02-24 

If Transformation means changing it so that it is clearer to beneficiaries - then let me have at it and I will do it free of charge.  

But I will also assign some compulsory reading and there might even be a test - SSA and Medicare.  😉  

[WebWiseWoman]

Search this: "Recording DOGE employee" ...

Please, now understand why so many of us are worried? Please?

[sr7460]

JillD284780 is completely correct as has been reported in every major media outlet (Fox is not included there). I too am very concerned about Musk meddling in our SS files. No one knows what he is doing there and even if not intentional (but likely it is), he can very quickly cause chaos to a system run by that department and their emplooyees for decades. He also has access to our SS numbers and records. At the worst, they will cancel benefits for thousands or millions claiming they are dead or not citizens which is not true as has been reported everywhere. I am VERY worried.

[jd3875]

Lee Dudek writes like he's being held hostage against his will. I have absolutely NO confidence in Elon Musk's DOGE "oversight agency" operating under strict constraints. He's not an elected official and his team doesn't have security clearance. The American citizens are being lied to and if you don't think your Social Security and Medicare benefits along with your IRS tax records are being compromised, then you're too trusting of this reckless administration. Tell your elected officials now how you feel about this issue. 

[dan0325]

You're right.  The proper way to investigate and alleviate fraud is to employ competent professionals (Certified Fraud Examiners, professional auditors, etc.) to investigate the problem, report on its extent, and recommend solutions.  The Trump administration and DOGE has done none of this and has produced no evidence of widespread fraud.  Instead, they've sent in a wrecking crew of ignorant hackers (who are incapable of investigating and reporting on a trash can fire, much less the workings of a huge and necessarily complex organization) whose sole mission appears to be creating as much damage and chaos as possible.

[GailL1]

@dan0325 

We already have years of investigations and documentation of waste, fraud and abuse - they have been documented by the OIG and the DOJ.  We talk about ways to stop them - now we need to stop them.

I think yesterday I gave you all kinds of finding of waste, fraud and abuse.  HERE - some for SSA and some for Medicare.  ⬇️

https://community.aarp.org/t5/General -Help/Saving-Social-Security/m-p/2603354#M8445 

I think you and others here are the ones creating the chaos and are scaring people in thinking that they aren’t gonna be getting their benefits.  Creating a scare tactic which is convincing people to get their benefits early and this might even cause a hardship for them because they are losing money applying for their benefits early.  

We need a more efficiently working federal government - We need a government with superior technological skills and programs to do the job meaner and leaner.  We need to stop waste, fraud and abuse within the various dept but specifically in Social Security and Medicare who’s Trust Funds are rapidly running out of money to which to pay all benefits.  Congress has not stepped up to the plate to do it even though we have known this since about 2010.

Everybody that is suppose to be getting benefits from Social Security at this moment in time are getting their benefits - we just need to stop giving the benefits to those who are not suppose to be getting them. Stop the overpayments, collect the overpayments when at all possible and that is truely what they are.  Stop all of the waste, fraud and abuse in Social Security, in Supplemental Security Income, in Medicare and in  Medicaid.

If we do not do something about the cost of government, then we all maybe in for a reduction in benefits come about 2033-2035 when the Trust Funds are scheduled to lose any remaining surplus and benefits are cut automatically because we have reached the doomsday figure.

[BettiS720642]

Fffred, agreed, Trump officials blatantly lie. Look what happened to other agencies after MUSK visits - they have stopped paying out, even when court ordered to do so.

All our Senators and Representatives can do is yell at Trump/Musk. Trump does back off when he gets huge pushback. I called the White House alternate number at 202-456-1414 and told them to get DOGE OUT of Social Security. Someone picked up, and was polite. We need to FLOOD them with calls. The main number is 202-456-1111. Oh, and in case you are concerned about this, he did not ask my name.

If the lines are flooded, here is Trump's email:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

[GAKKIEZ]

Love your thought "FLOOD them with calls".   There are very few that disagree with the actions of the CURRENT President.

WE THE PEOPLE fully support the investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse.  There are just some people that are embarrassed to acknowledge that the Current President is actually taking the actions that previous administrations FAILED to do.

[sr7460]

Actually only 20 percent of the population voted for Trump so your claim that most people agree on the Musk infiltration of our government is wrong. Huge numbers of people did not vote but that will change. No one wants waste in the government or to pay more taxes than necessary but you don't put on a blindfold and just fire people without any investigation. He is not "cutting waste." Did you know one woman who was fired killed herself? I have 2 friends who have worked for the government for a decade and I barely see them because of how hard they work, putting in long hours even when sick. They lost their jobs and are instrumental in keeping our gov't aflooat so you get your SS and Medicare check now or when you need it. 

[GAKKIEZ]

The DOGE is legal!  The DOGE are legally appointed employees of the federal government and do have security clearances. They do have oversight and responsibilities in carrying out their duties. The office of the current President DOES have the authority for these appointments.

This is not the first time the office of the President has appointed individuals to investigate instances of waste, fraud, and abuse.  It appears that it's just the current President is actually doing it AND getting results.