NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C., January 8, 2025: Arjun Mody, an Indian American public policy professional with more than two decades of experience in government, has been sworn in as Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration, placing him in one of the most influential operational roles in the federal government.
As Deputy Commissioner, Arjun Mody helps oversee a vast agency that administers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to more than 70 million Americans. The Social Security Administration manages an annual program valued at approximately $1.5 trillion, making it one of the largest and most consequential federal institutions in the country.
Often described as the agency’s chief operating officer, Mody plays a central role in managing daily operations, internal systems, and long-term planning at the Social Security Administration, which employs tens of thousands of workers across the United States.
Mody was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025 and officially sworn in earlier this month. His term as Deputy Commissioner runs through January 2031.
Before joining the Social Security Administration, Mody served in senior leadership roles within the U.S. Senate, including as Staff Director of the Senate Republican Conference, where he worked closely with Senate leadership on policy, communications, and legislative strategy. He has also held positions on Capitol Hill for several U.S. senators and served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Following the 2024 presidential election, Mody was part of the Trump–Vance transition team, assisting with senior-level nominations and coordination with the U.S. Senate.
In addition to his government work, he has advised private-sector clients on legislative affairs, regulatory policy, and public engagement.
Mody holds a bachelor’s degree from La Salle University, a law degree from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and an LL.M. in Law and Government from American University’s Washington College of Law.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and two daughters.
Mody’s father immigrated to the United States from India, reportedly arriving with very limited means. While the family’s specific regional roots in India have not been publicly detailed, Mody is widely identified as a first-generation Indian American who rose through the ranks of public service.
Cover photo courtesy: ssa.gov
