Posted on 02/21/2025 7:33:08 AM PST by Red Badger
A generation ago, singer Bob Dylan could have been commenting upon what would happen to one little-known federal worker when he wrote, “For the loser now / Will be later to win / For the times they are a-changin’.”
Are they ever. As noted by The Washington Post, Leland Dudek, who had been in charge of the Social Security Administration’s anti-fraud office, was recently named acting commissioner after the previous acting commissioner Michelle King departed.
But the story was deeper than just one manager moved into a vacancy, according to The Daily Wire.
The tale of Leland Dudek is one that offers a peek into a world of vendettas and vengeance taking place across the federal bureaucracy as the Department of Government Efficiency trains its big guns on where taxpayer money actually goes.
Dudek explained what took place in a since-deleted LinkedIn post.
“At 4:30pm EST, my boss called me to tell me I had been placed on administrative leave pending an Investigation,” Dudek wrote. “They want to fire me for cooperating with DOGE.”
“I confess. I helped DOGE understand SSA. I mailed myself publicly accessible documents and explained them to DOGE. I confess. I moved contractor money around to add data science resources to my anti-fraud team. I confess. I asked where the fat was and is in our contracts so we can make the right tough choices.”
“I confess. I bullied agency executives, shared executive contact information, and circumvented the chain of command to connect DOGE with the people who get stuff done,” the post continued.
Dudek then offered his explanation for cooperating with what has become the enemy of entrenched power: “Everything I have ever done is in service to our country, our beneficiaries, and our agency.”
The Daily Wire reported that, based on a source it did not name, Deputy Commissioner for Analytics, Review, and Oversight Gina Clemons wanted Dudek booted and was still in her post.
Billy Gribbin, a representative for Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, noted that putting fiscally responsible people in charge should happen more often.
“I hope we see more of this. There are many good civil servants who have been quietly frustrated for years with politically-motivated mismanagement who possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the problems with their agencies. Put them in charge, hand them scalpels and flamethrowers,” he posted on X.
The White House said that Social Security is in good hands, according to USA Today.
“President Trump has nominated the highly qualified and talented Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration, and we expect him to be swiftly confirmed in the coming weeks,” White House representative Harrison Fields said in a statement.
“In the meantime, the agency will be led by a career Social Security anti-fraud expert as the acting commissioner. President Trump is committed to appointing the best and most qualified individuals who are dedicated to working on behalf of the American people, not to appease the bureaucracy that has failed them for far too long,” he said.
President Donald Trump said King quit to avoid the axe.
“Resigned or got fired?” Trump said of King. “I think got fired. You know when you fire someone, they always resign, and then they say, ‘We resigned.’ But when you have numbers like that, I think really it’s got fired.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said news media accounts are “trying to fearmonger the American people” into thinking benefits are in danger.
DOGE has been called in to “identify fraud in the Social Security Administration,” she said, by finding payments that should not have been made.
“Rest assured, if you paid into the system honestly, you will continue to receive your Social Security checks,” she said.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
Billy Gribbin
I love his guitar playing!
It is captivating to watch those who have done evil or are trying to conceal it. One piece of history is worth repeating in the midst of all of this:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (known to be a practical jokester) sent a duplicate note to 10 important people in England. The note said, “All has been found out, flee at once.” Within days all 10 had fled the country of Great Britain.
I sense we are at that point in US politics. There are many who have been involved in hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud. “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” I wonder how seriously they consider leaving the country.
I also know they can find forgiveness in Jesus Christ. “He forgave us all our sins.” There will be consequences (hopefully) for the theft, malicious slander, and lies; but they can be forgiven by God Almighty.
I pray that all of us become Poor in spirit and Mourn over our sin before it is too late. I beg you who are part of the fraud Do Not Harden your Hearts.
“I hope we see more of this. There are many good civil servants who have been quietly frustrated for years with politically-motivated mismanagement who possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the problems with their agencies. Put them in charge, hand them scalpels and flamethrowers,” he posted on X.
This is really true. There actually are a lot of good people (but not in the FBI!) who have complained for years in every agency. Basically: "We're doing things wrong! We're wasting money! I know how we can do this better!" And upper management hates those guys. They are not allowed to rise up and run things because they would rock the boat.
If Trump finds the good people and lets them run the show, things would be different.
A generation ago, singer Bob Dylan could have been commenting upon what would happen to one little-known federal worker when he wrote, “For the loser now / Will be later to win / For the times they are a-changin’.”
More than one generation ago Bucko’s.
I hope the zeal of DOGE does not make victims out of some people who are named the very same as their father, grandfather and great grandfather. I can see that turning into a mess of trying to prove a negative... an impossibility.
The bureaucracy works in many says, most of them bad.
Ok, I’m confused. The article is praising Leland Dudek helping DOGE but suddenly at the end some guy named Frank Bisignano is the pick to run SS.
Leland Dudek was recently named acting commissioner...............
Yes, they can find forgiveness, but confession and repentance must be sincere. We all notice how many criminals ‘supposedly’ claim repentance for their crimes after discovery- but how many are actually sincere? Only God knows! Of course they are sorry that they have been discovered.
Yes, they can find forgiveness, but confession and repentance must be sincere. We all notice how many criminals ‘supposedly’ claim repentance for their crimes after discovery- but how many are actually sincere? Only God knows! Of course they are sorry that they have been discovered.
What do you think sbout all of this Milt (Milton) Beever? You were a good Social Security office manager in TN before you got promoted. What about that lazy Mrs. Brown there in TN. They need to fire those type if people. The other lazy African-American lady there should have been fired as well. Nothing ever gets truly fixed in the Federal Government.
Leland Dudek was helping DOGE uncover the fraud at the SSA. The acting commissioner put Dudek on administrative leave. DOGE found out about it and the acting commissioner resigned rather than be fired. Dudek is now the acting commissioner. I’m hoping beyond hope that he is exposing decades of fraud. But, he is the acting commissioner until Frank Bisignano takes over as the SSA commissioner. At the time, Dudek will hopefully be just below Frank Bisignano in the SSA chain of command.
Dudes is Acting COSS until Bisgnano is confirmed.
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