Elon Musk, the founder of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is continuing his reform of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The new updates focus mainly on digitization and Artificial Intelligence. Thus, Frank Bisignano is continuing with Musk’s directives, even though he is no longer within the DOGE. Regarding the changes being included, concerns about data manipulation are growing, as the U.S. Superma Court has given permission for the manipulation of Social Security information. Below, Kevin Thompson and Alex Beene make the case that the modernization of these services may be a disadvantage rather than an advantage if all the cases where the technology is at the same scope are not taken into account. Read on for the full story.
DOGE’s reform agenda still moving forward
Since Trump took power, DOGE has come out as a powerful proposal to modernize and streamline government operations, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been schemed as one of the most targeted agencies.
Some of the most relevant modification at the SSA include a reduction of staff by 7,000 jobs and changing towards digital services to take over in-person interactions. These modification were deemed essential to cutting expenditure, reducing waste of funds, and imuplsing efficiency.
Currently, led by Commissioner Frank Bisignano, the SSA is at this time lining up with DOGE’s agenda. Bisignano underlined that although Musk has left DOGE, the department remains a driving force for migliorate customer service through technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The SSA has already began to replace digital cards, manage benefits, and make updates digitally through its website. Therefore, beneficiaries are not needed to visit field offices unless required.
Controversy over data access and privacy
At the begging of this year, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of allowing DOGE to access non-anonymized Social Security information to enable their efficiency efforts. This turn was criticized by advocates who felt that full transparency to SSA systems would point to data misuse and erosion of privacy rights, in specific for people with disabilities and seniors.
Tighter overpayment policies and administrative modifications
DOGE modification also target to crack down on non-correct or excessive disbursements totaling $8.9 billion in 2023. Under recent rules, the SSA at the begining planned to recover 100% of monthly benefits from recipients who had been overpaid.
Nevertheless, because of the widespread backlash, the figure was capped at 50%, but concerns persist over the SSA’s aggressive stances and the risk of financial disruption to vulnerable recipients.
In addition, the upcoming policy could prevent individuals with no Social Security numbers (SSNs) from serving as benefit payees. An estimated 170,000 guardian caregivers and guardians, many of whom are legal but undocumented, are likely to be affected.
What lies ahead for Social Security after Musk
Spite of the departure of Elon Musk, DOGE already performs as a standing government work force integrated in key agencies such as the SSA and IRS. It is therefore safe to expose that digital and efficiency-driven reforms are likely to keep if not expanded further.
Nevertheless, there are preocupations about these modification due to the fact of modernizing legacy government systems that have been in use for decades is an enormous difficulty. Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, said:
“Here’s the catch: by the time those improvements are implemented, the technology will already be outdated. It’s a never-ending game of catch-up. What gets upgraded today will need another upgrade tomorrow. That’s the reality of moving a legacy system into the digital age, yet Social Security recipients won’t feel those effects anytime soon.”
In the same way, Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, cited that some Americans are not happy with the modification.
“For older Americans who have paid into the system for years, they don’t want to see access to in-person and over-the-phone assistance drift away from what is such a pivotal source of income for millions each month,” he said.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that reforms set in motion by DOGE, especially in the SSA, promise greater capability, they introduce service challenges, privacy preocupated, and cultural resistance, in special from older Americans who have used them for many years. Nevertheless, these reforms don’t seem to end soon until DOGE achieves its objectives. Therefore, nearly 70 million beneficiaries of Social Security are required to stay informed and get ready for any changes that come along