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.
A coalition of democracy and human rights groups has filed a lawsuit against the US State Department over its agreement with El Salvador to house migrants in the country's prison system, calling it unconstitutional and illegal.
This edition of Newshour explores the roots and ripple effects of President Trump’s clash with Elon Musk. AnewZ correspondent Oubai Shahbandar joins the program to unpack the political and economic stakes, while residents of Oakland, California share how the dispute resonates on the ground.
Iran on Saturday strongly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump's recently announced travel ban, calling it a demonstration of "deep hostility" towards Iranians and Muslims and a violation of international law.
In this episode of Inside Politics, Anastasiya Lavrina sits down with UK MP Tobias Ellwood to unpack the growing storm of global threats. From ballooning military budgets to the shifting architecture of alliances, they explore what today’s tensions reveal about the future of global security.
A major Japanese battery maker has stopped construction on a $1.6 billion plant in South Carolina, citing “policy and market uncertainty” tied to electric vehicles and global trade.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
A sweeping travel ban ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump will go into effect early Monday, barring entry to citizens from 12 countries and imposing partial restrictions on travelers from seven others. The move, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET, has drawn strong reactions both at home and abroad.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated Sunday that it is still awaiting official confirmation from Ukraine regarding a planned exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, which was scheduled to begin Saturday.
Russia announced that its self-imposed moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles is coming to an end, accusing the United States and its allies of failing to reciprocate Moscow’s restraint.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s chief trade negotiator, is set to arrive in London on Sunday for a six-day visit, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the China-US Economic and Trade Consultative Mechanism scheduled for Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and mutual support.
The final match of the European Chovqan Championship, organized by the International Chovqan Federation, was held in Poland from June 5 to 7, 2025. In a historic victory, the Azerbaijan national team was crowned European champion for the first time.
A new artificial intelligence analysis has dated many of the Dead Sea Scrolls as significantly older than previously believed, potentially reshaping the timeline of early Jewish history and biblical authorship.
President Donald Trump is preparing to extend the federal deadline for TikTok’s U.S. ban for a third time, as the June 19 cutoff approaches with no finalized deal in sight, according to government officials.
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