Summary
Michelle King, the top Social Security official, resigned after refusing Elon Musk’s request for sensitive records, including Social Security numbers and bank data.
Trump appointed Leland Dudek as acting commissioner and nominated Frank Bisignano for the role.
Nancy Altman of Social Security Works condemned DOGE’s request, warning, “I don’t think you can overstate how serious this breach is.”
DOGE’s similar attempts at the IRS and Treasury have sparked legal challenges over privacy concerns.
She’s likely worried about repercussions, about her family. I wouldn’t doubt that she already received threats.
I 100% believe that’s what’s happening, and is part of the reason he’s going after everybody’s most personal details first. He wants blackmail material, for anybody who doesn’t accept his buyouts.
Kompromat*
Russia’s tactics
There are always very good reasons for pulling up stakes in the current climate but we can and should put social pressure on these people until they share those good reasons. And maybe they can’t right now but don’t let them off the hook because you can imagine a reasonable scenario.
Well letting these fools keep doing whatever they want will put her family in much bigger trouble in the long term. Pathetic
Imo if that’s all it takes to make you quit you shouldn’t have had the position in the first place.
Edit: I’d love to hear people’s thoughts on this. How is this not seen as pure cowardice? Is this not purely caving in to authoritative practice?
Protecting yourself at everyone else’s expense is exactly what fascists want. They want you so terrified of consequence that you just give up entirely. Fuck that. And fuck everyone who bends the knee or caves in to threats.
It’s very easy to get irate at other people not making sacrifices on your behalf.
But it’s not just on my behalf? It’s on theirs and literally everyone else’s behalf.
They’re willingly getting out of the way to protect their own. Disregarding everyone who will be harmed by doing so.
That should be seen and treated as cowardice.
It’s also very easy to call other people cowards when you aren’t the one making the sacrifice.