How Google Search may have 'helped' in the appointment of Donald Trump's new head of the Social Security Administration
Frank Bisignano
, the recently sworn-in head of the
US Social Security
Administration (
SSA
), reportedly told the agency staff that he had to use
Google Search
to learn about the position when it was initially offered to him by the Trump administration. ABC News reported that
Bisignano
, a former Wall Street executive, made this disclosure during a town hall meeting with
Social Security
managers from across the country earlier this week. He also stated that he was not actively seeking a position within the
Trump administration
when he received the call offering him the role, the report noted.
According to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by ABC News, Bisignano said:
'So, I get a phone call and it's about Social Security. And I'm really, I'm really not, I swear I'm not looking for a job. And I'm like, 'Well, what am I going to do?' So, I'm Googling Social Security. You know, one of my great skills, I'm one of the great Googlers on the East Coast. I'm like, 'What the heck's the commissioner of Social Security? Put that as the headline for the Post: 'Great Googler in Chief. Chief in Googler' or whatever.'
Frank Bisignano's experience and how it can be good for the Social Security Administration
Bisignano now heads one of the largest federal agencies, responsible for distributing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to over 70 million Americans. During the meeting, he repeatedly lamented media leaks from within the agency, the report added.
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Despite bringing to the role his experience as former chairman and CEO of financial technology firm Fiserv Inc., where he managed large organisations and complex payment systems, he has no prior
government experience
or direct background with the Social Security system.
In a statement to ABC News, a Social Security official said, Bisignano is
'working to transform the agency into a premier service organisation. He is visiting offices and meeting employees to hear their ideas for how the agency can better serve customers in-person, on the telephone, and online. As the Commissioner evaluates the agency, he has been clear that SSA will have the right staffing to deliver Americans their hard-earned benefits. Clearly, Commissioner Bisignano was poking fun at himself so that everyone in the room felt comfortable having an open conversation about improving service for the American people.'
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