P.M. BRIEFING : Social Security Chief Challenged

Sen. David Pryor (D-Ark.) urged an investigation today into the verification for banks and credit unions of Social Security numbers, which he called the “largest breach of privacy in the history” of Social Security .

In a letter to Louis W. Sullivan, secretary of health, education and welfare, Pryor requested the inquiry by the HHS inspector general into the legality of the transactions and into the competence and credibility of its chief, Dorcas Hardy.

Pryor’s demand for an investigation stemmed from a hearing earlier this week by the Senate Aging Committee, which he heads, and at which Hardy, the veteran head of the Social Security Administration, testified.

Under the program, according to Pryor’s investigation, the Social Security agency has verified from its magnetic tapes the Social Security numbers listed by applicants at banks and credit bureaus.

“I was extremely concerned that the commissioner apparently had little knowledge of the many disclosures that have been taking place at SSA,” Pryor said. “Her testimony raised serious questions about either her competence or her credibility on this issue.”