Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano wrote in an email to people with online Social Security accounts that the agency is “transforming into a model of excellence” under President Donald Trump, days before the midterm elections, the Washington Post reported Sunday.
The emails were sent Friday and Saturday, according to copies reviewed by The Washington Post. Some recipients complained online that the message read like propaganda, the report said.
Bisignano’s Email to Account Holders
In the email, Bisignano said the agency “meets and exceeds customer expectations for fast, accurate, and secure service.” More than 100 million people have online accounts with the agency, according to the report.
The Social Security Administration did not immediately reply to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Legal Experts on the Hatch Act
Several legal experts said the email’s praise of Trump and its timing appeared to potentially violate the Hatch Act, The New York Times reported Sunday. The law is intended to prevent executive branch employees from using their positions to influence partisan election results.
Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis, said the email seemed to function as “propaganda” rather than a public-service announcement.
Richard W. Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, said in a Saturday phone interview with The New York Times that the email was intended to persuade people that Trump was doing a good job and called it inappropriate.
Bisignano on Trump and Agency Operations
Before the emails were sent, Bisignano discussed Trump’s approach to Social Security and the agency’s operations during an appearance on Fox Business’ “Big Money in the Morning.” Referring to Trump’s position on the program, Bisignano said the president had been clear about wanting to “protect and preserve” Social Security. He added that the first step was improving the agency’s operations, including its technology, operations, books and records.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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