The head of the government agency responsible for issuing retirement benefits for millions of older and sick Americans changes his mind and will not “close the office”. Previously appointed to the function of the head of the Social Insurance Administration Leland Dudek claimed that the judgment of the Federal Court limiting Elon Musk's access to sensitive data of citizens prevents the office of the office. Dudek changed his mind after the court told him that such an interpretation of the sentence was incorrect.
Confusion related to the “closing” of the Social Insurance Administration USA It started on Thursday, when the federal court ruled that the agency provided “unlimited access” to the data of millions of Americans to Elon Musk and his department of state performance (Doge). By the court's decision, the entity responsible for paying benefits was to suspend sharing documents to a group directed by an eccentric billionaire, who – in assumption – is to reduce the waste of public funds in administration.
Leland Dudek told the American media, including in an interview with “Bloomberg News” and “The Washington Post”, that the judgment also forces the limitation of access to data to the office of the office, which leads to the decision to close the social insurance administration.
Bad interpretation
On Friday, the judge, who issued the verdict, Ellen Lipton Hollander, who in a letter to lawyers of the ruling administration in the USA, referred to these words that the argument presented in the media by Dudek was wrong. The judge indicated that “the claims regarding the scope of the prohibition of transmission (sensitive data to other entities) are incorrect.”
The judge explained that her judgment allows Doge access to documents, provided that personal data is removed, such as surnames and social insurance numbers. Hollander pointed out that social insurance administration staff can still use full, uncensored files.
“Any suggestions that the order may cause delays or suspension of payment of benefits are incorrect,” Hollander pointed out.
In response to Leland, Dudek withdrew from earlier words about the need to “close the agency” because “the court clarified his position.”
Anxiety
The Reuters agency points out that the confusion related to the operation of social insurance administration caused anxiety among pensioners. On Saturday, over 100 people – including pensioners and members of trade unions – gathered in the parking lot in White Plains, New York to protest against the closing of the local Social Insurance Office.
Politicians and union leaders were among the participants. Demonstrators kept banners with the slogans: “Take your monstrous social security paws” and “My mother must get her check.”
Source of the main photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty AFP/East News