Fact Check: "Katie Miller pressured SSA to falsely claim 40% of calls were fraudulent."
What We Know
Katie Miller, the wife of former White House advisor Stephen Miller, allegedly pressured the Social Security Administration (SSA) to assert that 40% of calls to its customer service lines were from scammers and fraudsters. This claim was made during a phone call on April 1, where she instructed then-acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek to maintain that figure, despite internal SSA communications indicating that the number had no factual basis (The New York Times, NewsBreak). Reports indicate that Miller insisted on this figure because it aligned with the beliefs of then-President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who was involved in a government efficiency initiative at the time (Independent, The Daily Beast).
The SSA staff had already prepared a response to correct the misinformation, but Miller's directive was clear: “Do not contradict the president” (The Daily Beast). This situation highlights a broader pattern of misleading claims associated with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which sought to justify budget cuts through exaggerated assertions about fraud (NewsBreak).
Analysis
The claim that Katie Miller pressured the SSA to promote a false statistic is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The New York Times reported on the April 1 call, providing direct quotes from Miller and detailing her insistence on the 40% figure ([source-1]). Furthermore, the Independent corroborated this by stating that the number was fabricated and lacked any factual support, emphasizing that it was part of a broader strategy to push for cuts within the SSA ([source-4]).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news outlets known for investigative journalism. The New York Times, in particular, has a long-standing reputation for thorough reporting and fact-checking. The Daily Beast and Independent also have a history of covering political matters with a critical lens, although they may exhibit some editorial bias towards progressive viewpoints.
Additionally, Frank Bisignano, who succeeded Dudek as SSA commissioner, acknowledged the inaccuracy of the 40% claim while simultaneously attempting to defend the work done by DOGE, which adds a layer of complexity to the narrative (NewsBreak, Independent). This contradiction suggests internal confusion and miscommunication within the SSA regarding the validity of the claims being made.
Conclusion
The evidence supports the claim that Katie Miller pressured the SSA to falsely assert that 40% of calls were fraudulent. This assertion was made despite the lack of any factual basis and was part of a broader agenda linked to the Trump administration and Elon Musk's initiatives. Therefore, the verdict is True.
Sources
- Inside DOGE's Chaotic Takeover of Social Security - The New York Times
- Stephen Miller's Wife Angrily Ordered Social Security ... - NewsBreak
- Stephen Miller's wife ordered Social Security workers to cover up a lie ... - Independent
- Stephen Miller's Wife Ordered Social Security Workers to ... - The Daily Beast
