Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden have formally welcomed Frank Bisignano as the new Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The lawmakers provided him with copies of 17 letters that were previously sent to Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek. These letters contain nearly 200 unanswered questions related to concerns about potential cuts in benefits for Social Security recipients.

Senator Gillibrand emphasized her commitment to safeguarding benefits for New Yorkers and Americans relying on Social Security. She stated, "As ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am committed to protecting benefits for the 3.8 million New Yorkers and 69 million Americans who rely on Social Security to pay their bills, afford medical care, and put food on the table."

The senators' actions are part of a broader initiative called the Social Security War Room aimed at countering perceived threats from President Trump’s administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) toward SSA services.

In their note to Bisignano, the lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with previous responses received under Acting Commissioner Dudek's leadership. They wrote, "We have not received responses to the vast majority of our questions." They further criticized Dudek for allegedly instructing staff not to respond adequately to inquiries.

The senators also addressed past interactions with Bisignano where he reportedly claimed lack of information due to his then-outside position. However, they noted a whistleblower's claim that he had been involved in high-level decisions at SSA before his official appointment.

This move by Senate Democrats underscores their ongoing efforts through the Social Security War Room. This effort aims at unifying messaging across stakeholders while encouraging public engagement and education regarding changes proposed by Republicans concerning social security services.

The full text of these letters is available online for public access.