Ranking Member Larson Requests Immediate Hearing on ‘DOGE’ Developments at the Social Security Administration
East Hartford, CT – Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) sent a letter to Subcommittee Chair Ron Estes (KS-04) requesting an immediate hearing to investigate ‘DOGE’ developments at the Social Security Administration (SSA). This week, Acting Commissioner Michelle King resigned after she refused to succumb to DOGE’s demands to access systems containing highly sensitive and confidential information.
“The sudden departure of Acting Commissioner King after reportedly disagreeing with DOGE affiliated staffers over access to systems containing confidential Social Security beneficiary data raises serious questions about data privacy at the agency,” Larson wrote. “These reported attempts by DOGE to access data within SSA are deeply troubling and constitute a potential breach of Americans’ confidential and personal information, including Social Security numbers, earnings histories, and medical records.”
“Social Security is the foundation of financial security for approximately 70 million Americans who receive benefits. Moreover, the agency holds private and personal information for nearly every American. Failure to act after these breaches would be a dereliction of our oversight responsibility,” Larson concluded.
The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Chairman Estes,
I urge you to immediately convene a Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security hearing to investigate the alarming developments at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Recent events, including the sudden departure of Acting Commissioner Michelle King and credible reports of DOGE affiliated staffers demanding access to sensitive beneficiary data, demand immediate oversight action. The integrity of SSA and the security of Americans' confidential and personal information are at stake.
The sudden departure of Acting Commissioner King after reportedly disagreeing with DOGE affiliated staffers over access to systems containing confidential Social Security beneficiary data raises serious questions about data privacy at the agency. These reported attempts by DOGE to access data within SSA are deeply troubling and constitute a potential breach of Americans’ confidential and personal information, including Social Security numbers, earnings histories, and medical records. Furthermore, there are grave concerns about the qualifications, character, and integrity of DOGE staffers. Recent reports that a DOGE staffer who had previously resigned after the discovery of posts on social media expressing racist and eugenic views has now been reinstated at SSA are particularly disturbing. We cannot ignore these developments. The Subcommittee must immediately launch a full and public investigation. The American people deserve to know whether their private information and benefits are safe.
Social Security is the foundation of financial security for approximately 70 million Americans who receive benefits. Moreover, the agency holds private and personal information for nearly every American. Failure to act after these breaches would be a dereliction of our oversight responsibility.