The Senate confirmed Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration on Tuesday, installing him at the helm of the agency as it undergoes changes driven by the Department of Government Efficiency.
A longtime figure in the financial industry, Bisignano has led Fiserv as its chairman since 2020. In a February interview with CNBC, he described himself as aligned with DOGE principles while emphasizing that preserving benefits remains a core priority, echoing comments made by President Donald Trump.
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, called on fellow lawmakers Thursday to support the nomination of Bisignano during a speech on the Senate floor.
“I am confident that Mr. Bisignano has the experience needed to lead this important agency,” Crapo said. “He has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience in banks and financial institutions.”
The Senate ultimately confirmed Bisignano in a 53-47 vote Tuesday afternoon in a vote along party lines.
Testifying before Congress, Bisignano presented himself as an experienced financial leader with a history of improving large institutions. He previously served at JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup. In his opening statement, Bisignano said he would be an “accountable leader” at SSA and believes “this is a bipartisan job.”
During his confirmation hearing, Bisignano, chief executive of financial technology company Fiserv, said he’d “never thought about privatizing” the Social Security Administration.
The agency has become a focal point in Democratic attacks over DOGE’s cost-cutting measures and alleged impact on Social Security — a program so politically sensitive it’s often called the third rail of American politics. DOGE initially planned on paring back telephone access to the agency before reversing course.
Democrats cited concerns about Bisignano’s reported involvement with DOGE prior to his confirmation. They cite whistleblower reports suggesting he influenced agency decisions and personnel appointments, accusing him of compromising the agency’s independence.
Bisignano denied involvement in SSA’s recent operational decisions and stated he had not been consulted by acting Commissioner Leland Dudek but said he spoke to chief information officer, Michael Russo.
SSA recently announced it would be reversing a policy requiring some elderly and disabled beneficiaries to appear in person to confirm their identities.
Originally set to take effect April 14, the rule targeted those unable to complete online verification. The White House said the change comes as new phone-based anti-fraud software is being introduced to detect suspicious activity without requiring office visits.
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Senators on both sides of the aisle questioned DOGE’s role at the agency and widespread reports of poor customer service experiences. Bisignano acknowledged the concerns and stressed the need for better understanding and management of service demand.
“So to me, the job is to analyze everything we do. I know there’s a lot of stats out there. I’m not doing anything there, but I look at all the data it produces, and I see a land of opportunity,” he said in response.
DOGE remains active within SSA, but a preliminary court order has curbed its access to sensitive data, requiring its staff to complete SSA-level background checks and training. The Trump administration has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court, leaving the matter unresolved.