Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), has admitted that the decision to end a program allowing Maine parents to apply for Social Security numbers for newborns at hospitals was driven by his personal anger at Governor Janet Mills.
Dudek told The New York Times that he acted out of frustration with Mills after her public disagreements with President Trump over his executive order barring transgender women from competing in women’s sports. “I screwed up,” Dudek said, acknowledging his mistake.
On March 5, Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services suspended the “Enumeration at Birth” (EAB) program, following guidance from the SSA. Health professionals quickly criticized the decision, with Dr. Joe Anderson of the American Academy of Pediatrics calling it “nonsensical.”
On March 7, Dudek reversed the decision, admitting it created an “undue burden” on Maine residents. He apologized and reinstated the program.
The controversy extended to Trump, who demanded an apology from Mills for her opposition to his executive order. Mills responded by criticizing Trump’s focus on transgender athletes, calling for action on women’s health and rights.
The EAB program remains active in Maine. Dudek, reflecting on his tenure, expressed doubts about his future with the SSA, stating, “I can’t imagine the nominee would want to keep me after the way I’ve been doing things here.”
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