Larson Grills Commissioner Bisignano on ‘DOGE’ Election Interference Scheme, Demands Subpoenas and Full Committee Investigation
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) demanded answers from Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano about the ‘DOGE’ scheme to use data from the Social Security Administration to try and overturn election results with an outside election interference group, something the Trump Department of Justice admitted in a recent court filing.
Alongside every Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, Larson introduced a Resolution of Inquiry to compel information from the Trump Administration about this data breach. Last week, he launched an investigation of election denial groups across the country with Ranking Members Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Joe Morelle (NY-25), demanding the disclosure of all documents relating to their contact with ‘DOGE’ or the Social Security Administration.
View Ranking Member Larson’s remarks here.
“I would think that everybody on this Committee would want to know when your personal data and information is being pored over by outside groups that are unaccountable, have never been vetted, and are in these agencies, currently, and have this information that they have given to outside sources,” said Larson. “This was the Trump Justice Department that indicated that these people fraudulently gave information, private information of the citizens of the United States, to an outside source who was using it to alter elections. That doesn't interest any of you on the other side? It sure does interest the American people.”
View the full transcript of Rep. Larson’s remarks, and Commissioner Bisignano’s testimony under oath in front of the Ways and Means Committee below:
Larson: I want to pick up a point that Mr. Neal was making earlier. Before I do that, I'd like to submit for the record, Mr. Chairman, the Borges Whistleblower Report, the DOJ amended court filing, and the “IRS, Fiscal Service defy judges, terminate union contracts,” which is where-
Chairman Smith: Without objection.
Larson:Where I want to go. Starting with that. And you seem to, in your answer to Mr. Neal, say, “Well, they don't need this. It's in statute.” So, my question to you, should the Social Security Administration, their employees, expect that their union contracts will be terminated as well?
Frank Bisignano:I'm the CEO of the IRS in this hearing, and I'm not — If you want to have a meeting on SSA, you know, I'm always willing to have it with you.
Larson: Alright, I get the answer, and well, my grandfather Nolan, as we get close to St. Patrick's Day, would always say, “Trust everyone, but cut the cards,” and, so I would like —
Bisignano:I know you love that saying, so I appreciate it.
Larson:And we need a reshuffle and a new deal, as a matter of fact. And FDR would appreciate the reference, but also, I wanted to ask you, will you turn over to this Committee the 'DOGE' information that they gave to an outside political source to alter elections? Now, I realize that might have happened before your watch, but Social Security has that information.
Bisignano:If you want to talk about Social Security, I can come see you anytime you want to talk about Social Security as an IRS —
Larson: That's a no. So, Mr. Chairman, would you commit to subpoenaing this information? I would think that everybody on this Committee would want to know when your personal data and information is being pored over by outside groups that are unaccountable, have never been vetted, and are in these agencies, currently, and have this information that they have given to outside sources.
I'd also like, Mr. Chairman, to get the whistleblower before us as well. My God, we were all upset, and we made sure that Hillary Clinton's emails and Hunter Biden were top of the list. We had to make sure about that. But when it comes to the American people, and the data and information that is gone through by 'DOGE’ employees, and then distributed to outside people, does anyone on the other side want to investigate or get to that? Or is this just something we let fly? The Commissioner’s not going to answer because he's going to say, “Well, look, I'm here to discuss the IRS, and if you want to meet with me privately...”
AKA, that's called the ‘Tuscaloosa Two-Step.’ He's not going to answer the question, and I understand that. But, hey, it's not about answering the question. It's about the integrity of this Committee. I commend the Chairman. He brought him in to talk about these things that have been ignored by the Committee, that have been ignored by the agency and not addressing this, but as members of this Committee, we have a responsibility to the American people, especially as it regards to Social Security, the number one anti-poverty program for the elderly and for children. I get calls all the time in my district from people saying, “What have they done with my information? Who has my information? Is it in a cloud? What does that mean? It's in a cloud. Is it unsecure? What happened? And why is it that we can't get the names?” This was the Trump Justice Department that indicated that these people fraudulently gave information, private information of the citizens of the United States, to an outside source who was using it to alter elections. That doesn't interest any of you on the other side? It sure does interest the American people.
And we need to continue the integrity of this committee by calling forward these individuals. Mr. Chairman, I hope you will subpoena them. I hope we will lift a Resolution of Inquiry. Are you guys going to suspend that again so that we can't call witnesses before us? Thank God at least the Commissioner was here.