Social Security Administration head apologizes for mistakes and touts 3 month downsize plan in memo

Published March 18, 2025 5:24pm ET



The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration detailed downsizing plans and efforts to implement artificial intelligence in a new memo sent to staff Tuesday and acknowledged he made mistakes during his brief time leading the agency.

Leland Dudek took over the agency in mid-February after the previous leadership resigned amid clashes with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency over access to SSA data. The agency is responsible for sending out tens of millions of Social Security benefit payments to senior citizens and others each month.

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