WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Social Security Administration (SSA), one of the most essential and far-reaching federal agencies in the United States, is currently in a state of unprecedented upheaval. In a surreal turn of events, acting commissioner Leland Dudek has drawn national scrutiny for saying he might “turn it off”—referring to the agency’s entire IT infrastructure—after a federal court ordered a controversial Musk-linked division out of SSA’s internal systems.
At the center of the storm is the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a Musk-influenced anti-fraud initiative that was granted extensive access to SSA databases under Dudek’s leadership. That access has now been revoked by a federal judge, who ruled DOGE must delete all obtained data and remove any software they installed.
Dudek, reportedly frustrated by the ruling, claimed that even SSA’s own staff might be considered DOGE affiliates, leaving him no choice but to terminate their access to the IT systems entirely. “As it stands, I will follow it exactly and terminate access by all SSA employees to our IT systems,” Dudek said, according to Bloomberg. “Really, I want to turn it off and let the courts figure out how they want to run a federal agency.”
His remark, though possibly made in exasperation or jest, has amplified concerns about instability within the agency and the leadership’s direction under Dudek.
An Agency in Crisis
The SSA, which provides critical services to over 70 million Americans, is already struggling under the weight of staffing shortages, high call volumes, and shifting operational procedures. Dudek’s sudden rise to power—skipping over more than a hundred more qualified candidates—has been marked by aggressive moves, including consolidating offices, firing senior staff, and canceling contracts viewed as politically inconvenient.
Now, as the agency shifts to a new service model prioritizing in-person visits over phone services, employees say they’ve been left in the dark. “It’s almost as if we’ve turned into a call center with how busy we’ve gotten,” one field office worker told HuffPost. “Just on Monday, we had 350 calls.”
Compounding the stress is a perceived lack of communication from leadership. Despite an impending change in operations set to roll out on March 31, frontline employees report learning about new procedures from press releases, not internal briefings.
“It’s a difficult time to work here,” the employee said.
DOGE, Data, and Disarray
The immediate cause of the crisis stems from the court’s ruling that DOGE—a team linked to Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump—must be removed from SSA’s databases. Critics have accused DOGE of bypassing privacy protections and installing unauthorized software within sensitive government systems.
A lawsuit filed by watchdog group Democracy Forward and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) argued that DOGE’s involvement posed a direct threat to the security of millions of Americans’ personal data.
In a supporting affidavit, a former SSA official claimed DOGE’s actions could jeopardize benefit delivery, calling it “a real and present danger.”
Still, it remains unclear how much actual damage was done or how deeply DOGE had embedded itself in SSA operations. As of now, SSA has confirmed only that it will fully comply with the court’s ruling, without elaborating on whether any services will be interrupted.
Criticism Mounts
Dudek, who was once a mid-level fraud analyst, has drawn fierce criticism for what many see as reckless management. His appointment was reportedly a result of his close ties to DOGE and willingness to advance Musk and Trump’s agenda of rooting out alleged “waste” in federal spending—claims which often center on unproven allegations that millions receive “phantom” Social Security benefits.
Martin O’Malley, former SSA commissioner under President Biden, has been especially vocal. “He’s untethered and Musk wants it to be shut down,” O’Malley said of Dudek, warning that Dudek’s cuts and policy overhauls could eventually lead to missed benefit payments.
Nancy Altman, president of the progressive advocacy group Social Security Works, called Dudek’s tenure “the darkest time in Social Security’s history.” According to Altman, Dudek’s focus on DOGE has left the agency rudderless and at risk of a total systems breakdown.
“He has sown chaos and destruction,” Altman said. “Now, he is threatening to shut down Social Security completely. Dudek is willing to deny over 70 million Americans the benefits that most of them rely on to survive, rather than stop DOGE from mucking around with our data.”
Musk and Trump’s Influence
The growing influence of Elon Musk and Donald Trump over the SSA through the DOGE initiative has sparked outrage among public sector workers and privacy advocates. Trump’s recent statements supporting Musk—declaring he would “buy a new Tesla” to show solidarity—have only further politicized the matter.
A Bloomberg photo from March 11, 2025, showing Musk and Trump smiling in front of Tesla vehicles on the White House lawn, has come to symbolize what many see as the merger of political loyalty and administrative overreach.
SSA workers say the political pressure is demoralizing. “We are still the ones out there trying our best to help people,” one staffer said. “Most people aren’t prepared for retirement or disability, and we’re there to help them. It hurts when people paint us as the problem.”
What Comes Next?
For now, the SSA is in limbo. The court order stands. DOGE is out. But Dudek is still in, and the potential fallout from his leadership—and his latest “turn it off” threat—has yet to be fully realized.
As Americans continue to rely on Social Security for retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits, many are wondering whether the agency meant to provide security is itself in need of saving.
Disclaimer – Our editorial team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and eliminate any potential misinformation. We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity in our content.
