What is the White House's justification for accessing Social Security data, and is there evidence of significant fraud?

The White House claims they're accessing Social Security data to root out fraud, positioning this as a necessary measure to protect the system's integrity. However, this justification appears questionable when examining actual fraud rates. According to a 2023 inspector general report, improper payments in the Social Security system represent less than 1% of all disbursements. Internal estimates indicate these improper payments amount to approximately $72 billion over an eight-year period, demonstrating that the system already operates with relatively minimal fraud. This data raises important questions about whether expanded access to sensitive personal information is proportionate to the actual fraud risk.