Social Security chief vows to learn from past mistakes

Leland Dudek is the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). He recently shared his vision for the agency in a memo to staff. Dudek discussed using artificial intelligence and improving anti-fraud measures, in response to concerns raised by President Trump and adviser Elon Musk about improper payments. Dudek has faced scrutiny too. Before becoming acting commissioner, he worked in the SSA's anti-fraud office. There was an investigation into him for sharing information with Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service. However, the Trump administration appointed him to lead the agency. In his memo, he admitted to making mistakes and promised to learn from them. Dudek acknowledged that the agency has been in the media spotlight, which has caused stress for employees. He called his staff "outstanding" and noted they have continued to perform well despite the attention. He shared areas where he believes the agency has improved, focusing on preventing improper payments and enhancing phone services. He stated that 2,700 employees signed up for a voluntary separation program under the Trump administration, with 1,400 completing the process. Dudek also mentioned new data-sharing agreements aimed at reducing fraud and waste. He is exploring ways to safely implement AI to improve customer service in telephone interactions. Looking ahead, Dudek outlined plans for the next three months, emphasizing the need to tackle fraud and empower employees. He noted the agency aims to avoid cuts to the workforce, as it previously announced a plan to reduce its staff by 7,000. Additionally, Dudek promised to enhance anti-fraud techniques and improve how the public can track the agency's performance online. The SSA has not yet commented on the memo.