Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Oregon’s Ron Wyden have warned Frank Vignano, a candidate who will lead the Social Security Administration.
President Donald Trump has appointed Bisignano, the CEO of payments and financial technology company Fiserv, and served as a committee member of the agency responsible for sending monthly benefits to more than 72 million Americans.
“As a candidate for President Trump’s SSA Commissioner, you are responsible if an attack on the Trump administration’s programs leads to a failure or delay in social security checks for Americans.
A Vignano Senate confirmation hearing is expected to take place later this month, according to sources familiar with the situation.
In the interim, the agency is the leader of deputy committee member Lee Dudeck, and according to the report, he publicly stated that before his appointment he had taken administrative leave after supporting Elon Musk’s so-called government efficiency representative. Dudek replaced former deputy Michelle King, who resigned after reporting disagreements with Doge over access to sensitive data.
The Social Security Administration recently announced plans to cut 7,000 employees and close regional offices.
“This represents a 10% or more workforce cut and will have a devastating impact on the program,” writes Warren and Wyden.
The senator wrote that social security beneficiaries could face already long waits for changes. If agencies are trying to cut staff further, “the outcome will be devastating,” writes Warren and Wyden.
In the 1980s, 80,000 Americans were not benefiting from cuts in the Social Security workforce, the senator said.
According to Democratic leaders, the new cuts could encourage millions of Americans to miss out on the profits they’ve acquired and limit the Social Security Agency’s ability to catch and correct payment errors.
“The net outcomes can be a disaster. There are overpayments and waste in the system. At the same time, Americans who have won Social Security benefits will not be able to receive them,” the senator wrote.
In response, a Social Security spokesperson told CNBC via email that improving social security services for all Americans is our “common goal.”
“We are renewed focusing on efficiency, reducing costs and mission-critical work for Americans,” the spokesman wrote. “These steps prioritize customer service by streamlining redundant layers of management, reducing critical non-mission work, and reducing potential reallocation of employees in customer service positions. SSA is committed to ensuring that all Americans receive the support they need through our field office, telephone or automated solutions.”
Trump has vowed not to mention Social Security benefits, but he said he plans to target “waste, fraud and abuse” in his rights program.
The White House on Tuesday said Trump would always “protect” Social Security and Medicare.
“The Trump administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits,” the White House said in a fact-check statement.
The White House could not immediately comment further.
Bisignano did not respond to requests from CNBC for comment on each reporting time.