Social Security
What has President Trump directed Elon Musk's team to do regarding government data access?
President Trump has directed Elon Musk and the Doge team to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration. As part of this effort, Musk's team has requested access to a sensitive IRS data system that contains Americans' personal tax information, including tax filings and bank statements. This request raises significant privacy concerns as it would give Musk's team access to highly confidential financial data of American citizens. The initiative appears to be part of a broader effort to investigate potential fraud in government systems, specifically targeting the Social Security Administration.
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ABC News
00:56 - 01:14
What controversy surrounds President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to restructure the federal government?
President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to shrink the federal government have sparked nationwide protests and significant controversy, particularly regarding access to sensitive personal data. Musk's team, directed to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration, has requested access to sensitive information of millions of Americans, including financial data and employment records. The controversy deepened when they also sought access to IRS data systems containing Americans' personal tax information, tax filings, and bank statements. The situation has led to high-profile departures, including a top Social Security official who stepped down after clashing with the Department of Government Efficiency over these data access requests.
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ABC News
00:34 - 01:14
What causes millions of people to be listed as over 100 years old in the Social Security database?
The Social Security database contains millions of individuals listed between ages 100-159 due to missing birth date data. When exact birth information is unavailable, the system defaults to May 20, 1875 - a date related to the Convention du Meter held in Paris which established international standards. This default setting explains why so many people appear to be approximately 150 years old in government records. When officials can't determine someone's exact birth date, they use this placeholder instead of leaving the field empty, resulting in these statistical anomalies. This issue highlights significant data management problems within federal government systems.
Watch clip answer (00:44m)
Fox News
00:00 - 00:44
Why did Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, resign?
Michelle King stepped down over the weekend after refusing a request from DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) to access sensitive data of millions of Americans at the Social Security Administration. According to two sources familiar with the situation, King was unwilling to provide this sensitive information, which likely included personal details of Social Security beneficiaries. The White House later confirmed that King was no longer heading the agency. Her resignation appears to reflect tensions between the Trump administration's efficiency initiatives and concerns about protecting sensitive personal data of American citizens.
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NBC News
00:11 - 00:31
Why do some people support President Trump's government downsizing efforts?
Some people support President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to downsize the government because they believe these actions are necessary to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies. As Aaron Gilchrist of NBC News points out, these supporters view the cuts as 'long needed' measures to improve government accountability and efficiency. The administration's approach to streamlining government operations resonates with those who believe federal agencies have become bloated and inefficient, despite concerns raised by others about the potential impact of these cuts.
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NBC News
04:38 - 04:54
Why did Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, resign?
Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, resigned over the weekend after refusing a request from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk's newly established organization. The resignation came specifically because King refused to provide DOGE with access to sensitive data. The Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal government have put various departments under increased scrutiny, with Social Security Administration being the latest target. This resignation represents part of a broader pattern in the administration's federal restructuring initiatives, which aim to address alleged waste and inefficiency.
Watch clip answer (00:22m)NBC News
00:00 - 00:22