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.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni met with Donald Trump and JD Vance in Washington, using charm, shared views, and her native Italian to strengthen ties. She later hosted Vance in Rome, praised U.S.-Italy relations, and invited Trump to visit Europe.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hold a May 15th hearing on Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, an executive move blocked by lower courts and now facing constitutional scrutiny under the 14th Amendment.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stating on Thursday that Powell's termination "cannot come fast enough."
President Trump calls recent talks with Mexico and Japan "very productive" as he highlights growing international interest in meetings with the U.S.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a Russian drone strike that occurred just hours after the start of a declared Easter truce, calling it proof of Vladimir Putin’s blatant disregard for both the holiday and human life.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a Russian drone strike that occurred just hours after the start of a declared Easter truce, calling it proof of Vladimir Putin’s blatant disregard for both the holiday and human life.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a Russian drone strike that occurred just hours after the start of a declared Easter truce, calling it proof of Vladimir Putin’s blatant disregard for both the holiday and human life.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
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