DOGE is flirting with the ‘third rail’ of American politics — errors could delay or disrupt benefits, a former top Social Security official says

• The Administration of Social Security Setting up 12% of its workers, and the loss of expertise, especially in key systems, can put benefits of risking fraud, according to a former agency staff.

In history, singing social security benefits have been seen as a political “third rail,” which means that anyone can touch it to reach.

The White House said to a Press release It cannot be cut into social security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, but that is not the judges of an error.

Amid The Department of Government Efficiency’s Cost-Cutting Endeavor Within Federal Agencies in recent weeks, a former Top Social Security Administration Staffer is worried about Benefit interruptions as the agency loses expertise while doge looks for fraud in its systems.

In February, the SSA was released a statement Announced plans to throw around 12% of its 57,000 employees by voluntary leave and a plan of reduced strength. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and the largest man Elon Musk, the number for claiming a large scale, even if experts say it is limited.

However, DOGE is looking for evidence and seeks full access to SSA data (EDW), which provides information about any security and banking information, according to a EXPRESS Filed in a case last week by former senior official Tiffany Flick.

He said SSA usually does not give full access to all data systems – either of the most skilled and skilled experts – to protect against unauthorized changes in the system.

Flick says dog officers lack the interest in understanding systems and SSA programs such as rejection of “fewer privileges to” access the basis necessary.

“That is combined with an important loss of skill with more and more agency staff to leave, I have serious concern to keep moving and moving without obstruction,” he said.

Flick meant that the wrong error prepares the risk of “Payment Benefits not to pay or delay payment.”

SSA technology programs are made up of complex systems using old-language programs that require special knowledge, he warns that they can easily break.

“I understand that colleagues of doge seek to access ‘source code’ in SSA Systems,” Flick’s letter. “If allowed, I am not confident that such associates need to understand SSA to prevent critical errors to be able to hold SSA systems.”

In addition to his concerns about benefits, flick is not convinced with proper experience to prevent sensitive information from the hands of bad actors.

“In such a chaotic environment, the risk of data leaking the wrong hands is important,” he said.

Andrew Biggs, an American Enterprise Institute Senior Center, told Axio The agency can increase productivity and recovery, but he is skeptical of the dog’s ability to do so for its lack of experience.

“I just find it difficult to accept that you can get in there with just a few weeks, and do these changes in its full results,” he said.

BigGGs said while checks are automatic and unbreakable, possible customer service disruption to bring concerns about budget cuts.

“It’s a different one to a leg between whether they can improve the service before these cuts are the effects of service,” says Biggs.

The White House, the US Due Service, and SSA does not respond to Fortune’s Ask for comment.

This story originally shown Fortune.com

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