On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Arjun Mody to be the Deputy Commissioner of Social Security for the term expiring January 19, 2031. The President nominated Mr. Mody for this role on July 1, 2025.

Mr. Mody has a long history of Republican political service having worked for Senators Elizabeth Dole and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, as the Policy Director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and as the Staff Director of the Senate Republican Conference. In his testimony, Mr. Mody expressed the importance of public service while sharing his vision for the agency:

I see the work of the Social Security Administration as two inseparable imperatives: service and control. On service, deliver the best possible experience for every American, whether at a field office, over the phone with a representative, or online through mySSA. We must equip our workforce with the leadership, the systems, and processes to excel in every channel of service. On control, be timely and accurate in payments, drive down error rates, constantly monitor outlays, understand the actuarial analysis, get our backlogs cleared, and update our rules. We must safeguard SSA’s data systems, protect personal information, and ensure the public’s trust. This is an immense operational and financial challenge. A 50,000 person workforce, over 1200 field offices, and a 1.5 trillion annual spend, the largest in our government. It demands experienced leadership, operational excellence, and pragmatic problem-solving. If confirmed, I will take on this challenge in partnership with Commissioner Bisignano. Together, we will make Social Security great and it will be historic.

You can read his full testimony here.

During the hearing, Senator Wyden (D-OR) expressed concern that Mr. Mody will be the de facto head of Social Security given that Commissioner Bisignano is now serving as both the Commissioner of Social Security and Chief Executive Officer of the IRS, while Chairman Crapo expressed his confidence that Mr. Mody’s “extensive background in government service will allow him to maneuver effectively at SSA and assist Commissioner Bisignano in delivering the high-quality service that beneficiaries deserve.”

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