Acting Social Sec Chief Now Says He Won't Shut Down Agency

Saturday, March 22, 2025

The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration now says he is "not shutting down the agency" after earlier suggesting he might do so in the wake of a judge's ruling limiting the Department of Government of Efficiency's access to sensitive agency data.

Posted by Corky at 12:40 AM | 21 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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JUST IN: Judge Hollander has issued a *second* letter today warning Social Security acting commissioner Dudek not to shut down all operations over her order barring DOGE's access to sensitive systems. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...[image or embed]
" Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) March 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM

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"Therefore, I am not shutting down the agency," he said in the statement. "President Trump supports keeping Social Security offices open and getting the right check to the right person at the right time. SSA employees and their work will continue under the [temporary restraining order]."

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It's the brilliant competence that stands out most, ain't it??

Or is it the vicious lack of concern for the People?

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-22 12:43 AM | Reply

Here's what this IDIOT had said:

"Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94, she wouldn't call and complain," Lutnick " a billionaire former Wall Street CEO " told the billionaire "All In" podcast host Chamath Palihapitiya.

"She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining,"

By the numbers:

By the Social Security Administration's own estimates, of all beneficiaries over age 65, some 12% of men and 15% of women get at least 90% of their monthly income from Social Security."

www.axios.com

Sounds like another World Wrestling fan in the Admin.

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2025-03-22 12:50 AM | Reply

... The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration now says he is "not shutting down the agency" after earlier suggesting he might do so in the wake of a judge's ruling limiting the Department of Government of Efficiency's access to sensitive agency data. ...

Wow, just friggin' wow.

This is the level of respect that the Trump admin seems to have for the revered parts of our society?

"We're gonna shut it down"

"No, wait, we didn't mean that"

???

Meanwhile, how many people rely upon that institution for their survival?

Shut off Social Security, ... how many people will lose their place of residence?

Is Pres Trump's ultimate goal to make more people living on the street, homeless?

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-22 01:04 AM | Reply

Is Pres Trump's ultimate goal to make more people living on the street, homeless?

Not really his ultimate goal, but certainly a target of opportunity.

#4 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-22 01:23 AM | Reply

@#4 ... Not really his ultimate goal, but certainly a target of opportunity. ...

I wonder how many of those who voted for Pres Trump might then be receiving phone calls from elderly family members along the lines of ...

Because of Pres Trump's cuts in Social Security, I need a place to live.

Can we talk about that sofa you have in your house?

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-22 01:31 AM | Reply

"...said...he received "clarifying guidance"

I keep seeing a long table in a boardroom, and Ned Beatty.

#6 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-22 02:01 AM | Reply

I was accused here a while ago of "virtue signalling" when I shared my observation at the time of how unacceptably populated the sidewalks of Los Angeles were becoming in 2010 with tents, make-shift shelters, etc., and how it set in motion my decision to leave LA before I wound up living rough right along side them. Given the looming spectre of sudden mass homelessness should TrumpCo pull SS's plug, I wonder if the fellow still believes I was virtue signalling.

#7 | Posted by dutch46 at 2025-03-22 02:10 AM | Reply

"Pres Trump's ultimate goal..."

Cause such chaos civil unrest ensues, and he cancels elections.

In the meantime, sell-out America with bad deals and limitless debt.

#8 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-22 02:29 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

"Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94, she wouldn't call and complain..."

That makes one.

The other 68 million will be calling the closed offices, the shuttered phone lines, and the non-existent staff.

"You're number Forty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred Eleven in line..."

#9 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-03-22 02:37 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

@#9 ... "You're number Forty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred Eleven in line..." ...

Yeah.

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-03-22 02:49 AM | Reply

Howie Lutnik (estimated worth $1,500,000,000.00) claims you wouldn't hear a peep from his mother-in-law if her check didn't arrive.
Only "fraudsters" would complain.
"Real America" would be just fine getting stiffed.
(This is not made up: www.newsweek.com)

(Betcha Howie would hear the peep that became a screech, pronto.)

#11 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-03-22 06:56 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Trump's performative suck up Commerce Sec Howie Lutnik (estimated worth $1,500,000,000.00) claims you wouldn't hear a peep from his 94-year-old mother-in-law if her check didn't arrive. Only "fraudsters" would complain. "Real America" would be cool, getting stiffed. (No, this is not made up: www.newsweek.com)

(Betcha Howie would hear the peep that became a screech, pronto.)

#12 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-03-22 07:00 AM | Reply

My mother had millions of dollars before she died in her 80s. You bet your ass she'd call and complain if she didn't get her SS.

#13 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2025-03-22 11:13 AM | Reply

"Pres Trump's ultimate goal..."

Cause such chaos civil unrest ensues, and he cancels elections.

Trumpy and his oligarchs love chaos.

Because evil thrives in chaos.

#14 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-03-22 12:52 PM | Reply

#14: Agreed. Does anyone think Trumpf will go quietly in 2028 after all this power he is enjoying? Chaos and violence like historical Paris, St Petersburg, or Tehran will give Trumpf the excuse to activate martial law and annul elections. Worse, if there is enough GOP support, Trumpf's acolytes may push for a constitutional amendment to allow him to run again. They have four years to do this.

#15 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-22 01:00 PM | Reply

The ss commissioner couldn't 'shut down' the agency even if he tried.
He can, though, be replaced.

It's entertaining that he can threaten and rescue the agency all by himself.

www.youtube.com

#16 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-03-22 01:35 PM | Reply

"President Trump supports keeping Social Security offices open and getting the right check to the right person at the right time."

Wow. Unprecedented. How come no President ever thought of that before? Genuine leadership from Trump on Social Security.

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-22 02:53 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Somebody must have told Trump that America's seniors, along with their grown children, would be looking to take his scalp if Social Security checks stop flowing. They might anyway, but that would cinch it.

#18 | Posted by cbob at 2025-03-22 03:47 PM | Reply

According to one AI calculation, "73 million people in the US receive Social Security benefits. This includes retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors of deceased workers. Given that Republicans make up a significant portion of the US population (roughly 30-40% of voters in national elections), it's reasonable to assume that a similar proportion of Social Security recipients are Republicans. If we assume that 30-40% of Social Security recipients align with the GOP, this would mean that somewhere around 22 to 29 million Social Security recipients could be Republicans."

Trumpf won 77,302,580 votes on 5 Nov 2024.

#19 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-22 04:06 PM | Reply

If we assume that 30-40% of Social Security recipients align with the GOP, this would mean that somewhere around 22 to 29 million Social Security recipients could be Republicans."

Trumpf won 77,302,580 votes on 5 Nov 2024.

#19 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-22 04:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

I did a little digging and found this from the Pew Research Center:

A 2012 survey found that "most Democrats (60%) and Republicans (52%) say they have benefited from a major entitlement program at some point in their lives. So have nearly equal shares of self-identifying conservatives (57%), liberals (53%) and moderates (53%)."

"Republicans and Democrats are about equally likely to have gotten Social Security or Medicare benefits (32% vs. 33%)."

www.pewresearch.org

#20 | Posted by cbob at 2025-03-22 05:16 PM | Reply

It was mighty white of him not to shut down Social Security. The agency he was tasked to run and which has never missed sending out checks in its entire history.

#21 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-03-23 03:14 PM | Reply