Senate Confirms Bisignano to Lead Social Security Administration

The Senate has confirmed Frank Bisignano as the new commissioner of the Social Security Administration following a vote that split along party lines. This appointment brings new leadership to a federal agency responsible for delivering Social Security benefits to millions of Americans. The agency has undergone significant changes under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Bisignano, currently chairman and CEO of financial technology company Fiserv Inc., was nominated by President Donald Trump in December. The Social Security Administration has been operating under temporary leadership since February, when Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek replaced Michelle King, who resigned citing concerns about DOGE’s access to sensitive information.

The confirmation comes amid ongoing legal challenges regarding Social Security data protection. A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing DOGE from accessing personally identifiable information, including Social Security numbers and medical records.

Republicans strongly supported Trump’s nominee, while Democrats expressed serious concerns about Bisignano’s leadership potential and alleged connections to DOGE. Prior to the vote, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden held a rally opposing the nomination.

“We want Donald Trump to stand with working families and seniors and stop the attack on Social Security once and for all,” stated Senator Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Following the confirmation, advocacy groups expressed strong opposition. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said, “This vote was an opportunity for the Senate to reject the decimation of Social Security, and demand that Trump nominate a commissioner who will stop the bleeding.”

Bisignano’s Background and Experience

Bisignano currently leads Fiserv, a financial technology company that processes more than $2.5 trillion in payments daily. He assumed this role after serving as chairman and CEO of First Data Corp., which merged with Fiserv in 2019.

His previous experience includes:

• Co-chief operating officer for JPMorgan Chase
• CEO of JPMorgan Chase’s mortgage banking unit
• Various leadership roles at Citigroup

During his Senate testimony, Bisignano shared that he grew up in a working-class, multigenerational immigrant household in Brooklyn. His father worked for 46 years at the Department of Treasury in customs enforcement, which shaped his view of federal workers and public service.

Congressional Concerns and Responses

Throughout the nomination process, Democrats raised significant concerns about Bisignano’s suitability to lead the Social Security Administration. Senators Warren and Wyden questioned his views on privatizing Social Security, suggesting that DOGE’s efforts could be setting the stage for a “private sector fix.”

Bisignano firmly denied any Social Security privatization plans during his testimony. “I’ve never thought about privatizing,” he stated. “I don’t see this institution as anything other than a government agency that gets run for the American public.”

He also faced questions about:

• His involvement with recent changes at the Social Security Administration
• Potential connections to DOGE
• Protection of beneficiaries’ personal information

Senator Wyden introduced a whistleblower letter claiming Bisignano had been briefed on key SSA operations before his confirmation. When asked if he would “lock DOGE out,” Bisignano promised to protect personal information. However, in a February CNBC interview, he had described himself as “fundamentally a DOGE person.”

While Democrats remained skeptical, Bisignano received strong endorsements from Republicans and former Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill, who called him “the best operations person I’ve ever met in my life.”

Priorities for Social Security Administration

During his confirmation hearing, Bisignano emphasized “putting the beneficiaries first” and ensuring timely, accurate Social Security payments as his top priority.

Reducing Payment Errors

He highlighted the need to reduce the Social Security Administration’s error rate, which he described as “five decimal places too high.” From 2015 through 2022, the agency paid approximately $71.8 billion in improper payments out of almost $8.6 trillion in benefits.

Addressing Overpayment Issues

Regarding Social Security overpayment clawbacks, Bisignano stated, “I’m going to make sure that we recover all the money we should recover, but on the other hand we have to be humans in the process, too.” The agency is currently adjusting the default withholding rate to 50% for certain benefits affected by overpayments.

Improving Customer Service

Bisignano also committed to reducing wait times for Americans seeking assistance from the agency. He called waiting more than 20 minutes on the phone unacceptable and suggested implementing AI to help reduce call center wait times “to under a minute.”

Additionally, he promised to investigate the lengthy processing times for disability applications, which currently take around seven months for initial eligibility determinations—double the time required before the Covid-19 pandemic.