When I posted yesterday to give my advice about one thing the Commissioner could do before leaving office I didn't explain why he would be leaving office soon. I thought everyone knew that but it's apparent from the comments made that many don't understand so let me explain. Commissioners of Social Security have fixed six year terms. A Commissioner's six year term doesn't run from the date that he or she is confirmed. It runs until the end of the fixed six year time period. In O'Malley's case, he was confirmed with only a little more than a year left in that six year time period. O'Malley's six year term ends on Inauguration Day in January. However, after a Commissioner's six year term ends he or she can remain as Commissioner until a new Commissioner is confirmed. If Kamala Harris had been elected, this might have been of importance but she wasn't. More important than all this six year term business is the fact that a President can fire a Social Security Commissioner any time he or she chooses. That's what happened to Andrew Saul. It's extremely unlikely that O'Malley would want to hang around for the chaos of Trump II but even if he tried, he'd almost certainly be summarily fired. If you think there will be any bipartisanship in Trump II you haven't been paying attention. Thus, O'Malley will be leaving office by Inauguration Day.
By the way, don't expect a nomination for a new Commissioner anytime soon. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have taken treated the nomination as a low priority matter.
It really is a shame too. As an HQ employee I was not a fan of him when he got confirmed but I can say he has won me over. I’m still not a fan of his return to work policy but he is getting results done. Unfortunately though, he’s gone. Several reasons. 1 as you said, people with actual leadership experience are not going to want to work in the Trump admin after the chaos of the last one. 2) Trump is not going to re-confirm someone who was appointed under the Biden admin. 3) Actual results don’t matter to Trump or most of Congress as is apparent by their refusal to fund us, and O’Malley has made it clear we need more cash. Not going to happen under a GOP admin. When schedule F appointments return and the govt efficiency task force gets going there is no doubt SSA will lose OT funds and staff will decrease. O’Malley won’t want to be here for that. I hope SSA employees weighed the impact a Trump admin will have on the federal workforce when they made their decision how to vote because every agency is about to see the fallout. Best of luck to O’Malley and I hate thinking about all the work we did over the last year disappearing but it’s reality. Hang on to your hats if you work in the FO because it’s going to get rougher. HQ, just hope we don’t lose too many career employees. And let’s all hope whoever is selected as “Acting” which no doubt will linger forever , is someone of competence and not just a favor appointment.
ReplyDeleteHopefully he will think about a running bid for President in 4 years. He has the experience, he would have broad appeal given he is a mix between progressive and moderate. As the old election cycle ends, the new one begins.
ReplyDeleteI hope we can find someone who isn’t old, white or male, and who can actually inspire people to vote by promising to pursue concrete policy changes that will boost middle class earnings, decrease the cost pf housing, and stop defunding and killing the government programs that actually benefit the working class in order to provide gross welfare for the Jeff Bezos and Elon Musks of the world. Someone like that might actually get people to reach for something beyond whatever fleeting kicks they get from watching an old white man bully people whose accomplishments and character make them feel insecure.
DeleteRumor at HQ in Maryland, is that Commissioner O'Malley is already telling his staff that he's leaving in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that he is leaving.
This whole situation of Trump and the Republicans taking over is not a good one for SSA workers.
We don't know what is coming but most likely it will not be good.
It’s good for America and that’s who we are here to serve.
DeleteIn the past, since at least Barnhart, there has always been a Heritage Foundation credentialed monitor on the transition team who has remained on staff when the GOP has the WH. There is no doubt that there are folks on the Advisory Board with strong conservative "privatization or cut benefits" credentials who would love to assist in the dismantling of a hated program. However, the COSS has no real play in dismantling the program, Congress is that key player and the COSS job is primarily dealing with all the day to day headaches. There is no fun in that, so they will leave it crippled with no leadership (can't hurt the plan), have their toady or 2 in the front office reporting back to daddy on things and play the game where the game is actually played, on the Hill, and in the soon to be all schedule F OMB. Project 2025 will lay out the needed legislative agenda and again depending on Schedule F, a COSS will come in when that gets passed. Given a GOP Senate, confirmation will be automatic.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder why Biden waited 3 years to appoint a commissioner. He made a good choice with O'Malley but wasted a lot of time.
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