Earlier this morning I submitted my letter of resignation to President Biden effective November 29th, 2024.
It has been said that “all we love becomes a part of us.” And I have come to love each of you — and the mission we share — dearly. You make real the promise of a compassionate and caring America for millions of our neighbors every day.
So, have courage, do your duty, and do not be afraid. America needs you.
Omally will be remembered for a lot of window dressing and little lasting accomplishments. He brought in Lisa Allen as a favor from his Baltimore days, he brought back Colvin as a made up commissioner emeritus, and then left as soon as things got the least bit difficult. The agency will revert to Michelle King and her feckless leadership until Trump installs a Tv personality.
And this is the perfect example of an administrator vs a politician. An administrator would have stayed and finished the term until asked to leave. A politician is always on to the next best thing. Sort of flies in the face of everything he’s done the last 11 months. Disappointing.
If he really “loves” all the employees, he should restore full time telework for eligible employees and close field offices to the public for half the day on Wednesdays. What Marty loved was spending all the agency’s money!
Kilolo's leaving too. The acting head of ORDP is Steven Evangelista so it could be him; if they're going to go with the head of Operations (like Nancy Berryhill was) that's Michelle King. I could also see it being Chad Poist or Gina Clemons.
At the rate we are going it will be Mike Lindell and our new motto will be "You're not disabled, you are just sleeping on the wrong pillow." Instead of FEVS we will have organized pillow fights.
I was thinking, are we better today than when he took over? Wouldn't that be the primary bar? Sure, he looked good doing what he did, but are we feeling better about SSA today than when he started? We're playing some agency level shell game. We're moving work around like crazy. Is that progress? Move one problem here and start another problem there. That doesn't feel like a win. Are we better trained? No. Hardly. The perceived wins were changes in policy. Honestly, most of them were relaxations of policy. Surely, our stewardship will have declined permanently if we had better staffing. We created giveaways in the name of progress. What are we truly better at? On his way out, we started an appointment focused model? Does that make us a better customer service agency? Oh, that's right, we aren't a customer service agency. I'm just not really sure what we are better at. I guess we are better at moving things around and relaxing our standards. Mission accomplished! How did that FEVS push work out? I bet that funding dream is still coming. Right about now, his entire tenure at SSA looks like a political stunt.
Good riddance to O'Malley. We had nearly a dozen working mothers forced to quit after his ruthless RTO. The DNC should note his refusal to work with employees in enforcing such an RTO on working women, as well as others.
The thing I’ll remember him most for is the frenzied FEVS initiative. Hammered away at that for weeks on end as if it was a substantive initiative to win the war on cancer. As if it would accomplish something in and of itself. Nothing else - no workload issue - received a quarter of the attention and executive energy that the effort to get employees to fill out a formulaic morale survey did during his tenure. I sure felt like a child being exhorted every day to fill that thing out. Hard not to see that as intended to benefit his resume rather than the public we serve. That interpretation sure is reinforced by his abrupt departure. This would be a time to try to hasten changes that need to be solidified before the next administration arrives, but instead we are left rudderless. His motto was literally “Stronger Together.” That’s rich.
There is no question that at least at the OHO level, we are much better off. I’d argue best commish we’ve had in a long time. At least he tried to get us more $$ which is the biggest impediment to larger scale fixes. The policy changes were great. Streamlines so much. Wish he had been here all 4 years.
I retired a few years ago but I thought O'Malley seemed to be doing some good things for the agency. This move seems a bit like a captain leaving a wounded ship before it goes down.
isn't Hatch Act about running for or supporting candidates for federal office? DNC is a private organization...it's like running for a position on an HOA.
So who actually picks the next ACOSS? Is that President Biden or is there an internal process like a line of succession or OOP process. Genuinely curious.
I think the President picks the role that becomes the ACOSS. Like it was DCO when Berryhill became ACOSS, and DC ORDP when it was Kijakazi. Of course if there's a Deputy Commissioner they would become the ACOSS (I think that was Colvin's situation) but there hasn't been a Deputy Commissioner--even an acting one-- since David Black left in 2021.
Here's hoping for a quick commissioner selection of someone with some staying power and the agency's values in mind rather than a short term personal political effort. Not a fan of what our tiktok master did. With that said, it was nice to be relieved of Kilolo's DEI agenda. There was a minor victory there.
Given his recent appointments, I expect SSA will instead be led for the next four years by a rapist sleaze-ball who doesn’t believe disability is real and thinks America’s retirement age should be raised to at least 105.
Yeah, it was just so nauseating having to hear how I should treat people with disabilities and people of diverse backgrounds with humanity and respect rather than mocking disdain and contempt. And from a black woman, no less!
5:48 PM I was referring to O'Malley doing so much good for our clients (10% withholding on SSD, SSI ISM changes, more). Yes, he also raised the fee cap, etc.
O'Malley of course had political aspirations but in doing so he made a lot of things happen. He was a well oiled machine that was not afraid to make decisions and put pressure on components when they were trying to delay things with red tape. I'll miss him.
Well, I don't know where you work, but in the gutted field, things are not so lovely. His rapid changes caused much turmoil and surely many mistakes, considering employees couldn't keep up with the pace of change, particularly while trying to keep up with the lowest staffing levels and highest levels of attrition most have ever experienced. Put it this way, we'd have been better off without the changes. Many of the changes caused extra work in the short term. Combine this with pathetic systems issues and an albatross of a phone system, and you have a recipe for disaster.
"Dear Colleague,
ReplyDeleteEarlier this morning I submitted my letter of resignation to President Biden effective November 29th, 2024.
It has been said that “all we love becomes a part of us.” And I have come to love each of you — and the mission we share — dearly. You make real the promise of a compassionate and caring America for millions of our neighbors every day.
So, have courage, do your duty, and do not be afraid. America needs you.
Stronger together,
Martin O’Malley"
Not exactly a role a role model. You left ASAP!
DeleteSo, have courage, do your duty, and do not be afraid. America needs you.
I can’t tell if the use of “ Stronger Together” in a resignation letter is unintentional or intentional irony.
DeleteOmally will be remembered for a lot of window dressing and little lasting accomplishments. He brought in Lisa Allen as a favor from his Baltimore days, he brought back Colvin as a made up commissioner emeritus, and then left as soon as things got the least bit difficult. The agency will revert to Michelle King and her feckless leadership until Trump installs a Tv personality.
DeleteThis is a loss. Any thoughts on who will be ACOSS? Bets on how long until Trump nominates? Saul again?
ReplyDeleteHe would be an above average pick for Chair of the DNC.
ReplyDeleteSaul will not be nominated again. But its impossible to guess who Trump will nominate.
As long as it's not another short term politician type, I'm sure we'll be better off.
DeleteEmployees deserve admin leave for the day he leaves.
ReplyDeleteSo saddened by this news.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is the perfect example of an administrator vs a politician. An administrator would have stayed and finished the term until asked to leave. A politician is always on to the next best thing. Sort of flies in the face of everything he’s done the last 11 months. Disappointing.
ReplyDeleteIf he really “loves” all the employees, he should restore full time telework for eligible employees and close field offices to the public for half the day on Wednesdays. What Marty loved was spending all the agency’s money!
ReplyDeleteThat's sad to hear. I do hope he the chair.
ReplyDeleteNo you don’t
ReplyDeleteThe line of succession needs to be changed before he leaves. Don’t want Kilolo again.
ReplyDeleteKilolo's leaving too. The acting head of ORDP is Steven Evangelista so it could be him; if they're going to go with the head of Operations (like Nancy Berryhill was) that's Michelle King. I could also see it being Chad Poist or Gina Clemons.
DeleteMichelle King as things stand, since the DCO is first in the line of succession.
DeleteNo video this time huh? The guy won't even stay on until January. Real dedication.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing. No parting video from Commissioner TikTok?
DeleteSo who's the next leader? Eric Trump? Don Jr? Maybe there's a case for Dr. Ben Carson to revamp Disability /s
ReplyDeleteAt the rate we are going it will be Mike Lindell and our new motto will be "You're not disabled, you are just sleeping on the wrong pillow." Instead of FEVS we will have organized pillow fights.
DeleteI was thinking, are we better today than when he took over? Wouldn't that be the primary bar? Sure, he looked good doing what he did, but are we feeling better about SSA today than when he started? We're playing some agency level shell game. We're moving work around like crazy. Is that progress? Move one problem here and start another problem there. That doesn't feel like a win. Are we better trained? No. Hardly. The perceived wins were changes in policy. Honestly, most of them were relaxations of policy. Surely, our stewardship will have declined permanently if we had better staffing. We created giveaways in the name of progress. What are we truly better at? On his way out, we started an appointment focused model? Does that make us a better customer service agency? Oh, that's right, we aren't a customer service agency. I'm just not really sure what we are better at. I guess we are better at moving things around and relaxing our standards. Mission accomplished! How did that FEVS push work out? I bet that funding dream is still coming. Right about now, his entire tenure at SSA looks like a political stunt.
ReplyDeleteWe are better off.
DeleteIf you think we’re better off after O’Malley’s disastrous tenure - YOU are part of the problem.
DeleteGood riddance to O'Malley. We had nearly a dozen working mothers forced to quit after his ruthless RTO. The DNC should note his refusal to work with employees in enforcing such an RTO on working women, as well as others.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I’ll remember him most for is the frenzied FEVS initiative. Hammered away at that for weeks on end as if it was a substantive initiative to win the war on cancer. As if it would accomplish something in and of itself. Nothing else - no workload issue - received a quarter of the attention and executive energy that the effort to get employees to fill out a formulaic morale survey did during his tenure. I sure felt like a child being exhorted every day to fill that thing out. Hard not to see that as intended to benefit his resume rather than the public we serve. That interpretation sure is reinforced by his abrupt departure. This would be a time to try to hasten changes that need to be solidified before the next administration arrives, but instead we are left rudderless. His motto was literally “Stronger Together.” That’s rich.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that FEVS push was legendary. Legendarily ridiculous that is
DeleteThere is no question that at least at the OHO level, we are much better off. I’d argue best commish we’ve had in a long time. At least he tried to get us more $$ which is the biggest impediment to larger scale fixes. The policy changes were great. Streamlines so much. Wish he had been here all 4 years.
ReplyDeleteI retired a few years ago but I thought O'Malley seemed to be doing some good things for the agency. This move seems a bit like a captain leaving a wounded ship before it goes down.
ReplyDeleteWould it have been a Hatch Act Violation if the COSS had stayed and then he actively campaigned to get the top slot for DNC?
ReplyDeleteisn't Hatch Act about running for or supporting candidates for federal office? DNC is a private organization...it's like running for a position on an HOA.
DeleteSo who actually picks the next ACOSS? Is that President Biden or is there an internal process like a line of succession or OOP process. Genuinely curious.
ReplyDeleteI think the President picks the role that becomes the ACOSS. Like it was DCO when Berryhill became ACOSS, and DC ORDP when it was Kijakazi. Of course if there's a Deputy Commissioner they would become the ACOSS (I think that was Colvin's situation) but there hasn't been a Deputy Commissioner--even an acting one-- since David Black left in 2021.
DeleteThere is a line of succession, and the DCO is first in line, so Michelle King is the next commissioner as things stand.
DeleteAs long as the new acting commissioner allows me to continue to telework , I'm okay with a change at the top.
ReplyDeleteI can't deal with fighting traffic for an hour, 5 days a week. Just to come into a SSA office to perform the same job functions that I can do at home.
Keeping telework in this holiday season is even a tall task for Santa!
DeleteI've represented claimants for 40 years. I don't recall any Commissioner/ACOSS doing so much good in so little time as Commr O'Malley.
ReplyDeleteYeah, he did a lot for attorneys. Raised their pay, no increase in accountability, no wonder they all love him.
DeleteHere's hoping for a quick commissioner selection of someone with some staying power and the agency's values in mind rather than a short term personal political effort. Not a fan of what our tiktok master did. With that said, it was nice to be relieved of Kilolo's DEI agenda. There was a minor victory there.
ReplyDeleteGiven his recent appointments, I expect SSA will instead be led for the next four years by a rapist sleaze-ball who doesn’t believe disability is real and thinks America’s retirement age should be raised to at least 105.
DeleteYeah, it was just so nauseating having to hear how I should treat people with disabilities and people of diverse backgrounds with humanity and respect rather than mocking disdain and contempt. And from a black woman, no less!
DeleteSure buddy.
Delete5:48 PM I was referring to O'Malley doing so much good for our clients (10% withholding on SSD, SSI ISM changes, more). Yes, he also raised the fee cap, etc.
ReplyDeleteO'Malley of course had political aspirations but in doing so he made a lot of things happen. He was a well oiled machine that was not afraid to make decisions and put pressure on components when they were trying to delay things with red tape. I'll miss him.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know where you work, but in the gutted field, things are not so lovely. His rapid changes caused much turmoil and surely many mistakes, considering employees couldn't keep up with the pace of change, particularly while trying to keep up with the lowest staffing levels and highest levels of attrition most have ever experienced. Put it this way, we'd have been better off without the changes. Many of the changes caused extra work in the short term. Combine this with pathetic systems issues and an albatross of a phone system, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Delete