U.S. Social Security Administration head Leland Dudek reversed his earlier assertion of "shutting down the agency" following a federal judge's clarification of a recent court ruling that limited billionaire Elon Musk's group's access to agency information.
The judge, U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander, had ruled on Thursday that while Musk's aides would have restricted access—requiring the redaction of personal identifiers such as names and Social Security numbers—agency employees could still view unredacted records. "Any suggestion that the order may require the delay or suspension of benefit payments is incorrect," she stated in a letter to government counsel.
Dudek, appointed by President Donald Trump as acting commissioner, had previously expressed concerns that the ruling might force him to restrict access to crucial agency data for his own staff—a move that would effectively shut down operations. However, in a statement on Friday, he acknowledged that the court's order does not necessitate such extreme measures. "Therefore, I am not shutting down the agency," he said, emphasizing that the Social Security Administration would continue to function normally while complying with the court's directives.
The controversy arose from efforts initiated by the Trump administration to reduce government waste. As part of this initiative, the administration enlisted a Musk-led group, known as DOGE, to help identify cases of Social Security fraud. Critics argue that providing broad access to sensitive personal information could compromise the privacy of tens of millions of beneficiaries, a concern that prompted Judge Hollander's ruling.
The ruling has stirred considerable public debate. Protesters gathered in White Plains, New York, over fears that aggressive measures to curtail government spending might lead to the closure of local Social Security offices, disrupting essential services for retirees and disabled Americans. Among the demonstrators was Congressman George Latimer, who joined union leaders and constituents in voicing concerns about the potential impact on benefit recipients.
While the Trump administration has long championed efforts to cut what it deems excessive government expenditure, the latest judicial decision underscores the legal and practical limits of such an approach. With the agency continuing its operations without interruption, the focus now shifts to ensuring that any measures to curb fraud do not jeopardize the privacy or the continuity of critical Social Security services.
High tariffs are expected to remain a core feature of Donald Trump's trade policy even after new trade agreements are reached, according to several current and former advisers who spoke with Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump had a "very good and productive" phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, according to the White House.
China has agreed to send its top economic official for rare trade talks with the U.S. in Geneva, as deepening economic troubles and geopolitical frictions force Beijing back to the negotiating table.
The United States, along with its European allies, is finalizing a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, with a strong warning that new sanctions will be imposed on Russia if the truce is not honored, according to a French diplomatic source on Friday.
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter said Switzerland and the U.S. have agreed to accelarate trade talks.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
The Pakistan military has alleged that India fired six ballistic missiles that fell within its own borders.
A diver has died during early recovery operations for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht off the coast of northern Sicily, Italian police confirmed Friday.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
A new rose has been named after Catherine, Princess of Wales, to promote the healing benefits of nature.
A fragment of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972, is expected to crash back to Earth between 9 and 10 May, according to space agencies monitoring its re-entry.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
The Pakistan military has alleged that India fired six ballistic missiles that fell within its own borders.
A diver has died during early recovery operations for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht off the coast of northern Sicily, Italian police confirmed Friday.
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