Democrats Call For Acting Social Security Administration Chief's Job After Attempts To Require Maine Parents Register Newborn SSNs At Offices

The top Social Security official is facing mounting pressure to resign after a controversial order — now reversed — would have forced Maine parents to apply for newborn Social Security numbers at federal offices instead of at hospitals.

A Sudden Policy Shift — And Swift Backlash

Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Leland Dudek on March 5 issued an order terminating contracts with Maine that enabled the state's participation in the long-standing Enumeration at Birth program. This federal program allows parents to apply for their child's Social Security number while still at the hospital — a process used for decades to make it easier for families to enroll in vital services.

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The move drew immediate criticism. Medical groups and public officials called the change punitive and warned it could delay benefits, increase identity theft risk, and create unnecessary burdens for new parents.

Internal SSA emails, later obtained by the House Oversight Committee, suggested the decision may have been politically motivated — a response to Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills' opposition to recent federal directives. One email from Dudek to SSA staff said, "no money will go from the public trust to a petulant child," referring to Mills.

Political Fallout

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has called for Dudek's resignation, saying his actions amounted to retaliation. "Commissioner Dudek's vindictive actions against Maine represent a fundamental betrayal of public trust that disqualifies him from public service," Pingree said.

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Mills also spoke out, emphasizing the importance of Social Security in her state, where many residents are older and rely heavily on federal benefits. She accused the SSA's leadership of undermining public confidence and taking "rushed and reckless" action.

Meanwhile, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter demanding Dudek resign and sit for an interview with the committee. He pointed to the timeline between President Donald Trump's public threat to Mills in February and Dudek's order to end the contract later that month. Connolly said the internal communications indicate Dudek acted to punish the state.

Dudek Responds

During a March 18 press call, Dudek acknowledged the decision was a mistake. "I made the wrong move there. I should always ask my staff for guidance first," he said. He admitted frustration over Mills' stance but insisted he wasn't interested in political retaliation. "I'm interested in serving the public."

Still, critics argue the damage was done. The temporary cancellation created uncertainty for Maine families and raised broader concerns about political influence over public institutions.

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Federal Tensions Continue

This incident is part of a larger conflict between Maine and the federal government. Following Mills' refusal to comply with a Trump-era executive order banning transgender athletes from girls' sports, federal agencies began multiple investigations into the state. The Education Department has warned of possible enforcement actions, and the Agriculture Department has paused some education-related funding to Maine.

As of now, Dudek remains in his position. The SSA has not publicly commented on the resignation calls.

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