Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley took the position when he was confirmed last December. Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images
O'Malley to step down as SSA chief this month, seeks political role
Martin O'Malley won plaudits for reinvigorating a resource-starved SSA, but will leave his post early.
Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley is stepping down from his post as he seeks to lead the Democratic National Committee.
The former Maryland governor told The New York Times his resignation would take effect Nov. 29. His time heading the agency was always meant to be temporary: while SSA commissioners serve six-year terms, O’Malley took over the tenure of his predecessor and was therefore slated for replacement under President-elect Trump.
It has been a great honor to serve alongside the people of the @SocialSecurity Administration, who have turned around this agency and put it on a better path forward. For the dignity of every individual, #SocialSecurity works.
— Martin O'Malley (@OMalleySSA) November 18, 2024
O’Malley brought his government data evangelism to the post, establishing new systems to measure the agency’s customer service performance, benefits processing, over and underpayments and other matters. The commissioner took over the job during what he called a customer service and staffing crisis and has sought to address both issues. He told Government Executive earlier this year that the “context of everything we do is against the backdrop of the highest number of customers ever and the lowest staffing in 25 years.”
O’Malley quickly embarked on a listening tour after taking office, soliciting input on the root causes of SSA’s high attrition rates and low morale. He has improved relations with the agency’s labor leaders, who have praised his leadership as a breath of fresh air.
As commissioner, O’Malley has pushed lawmakers to restore his agency’s funding to levels it enjoyed before it became subject to discretionary appropriations. He recently unsuccessfully sought boosted funding to be included in a stopgap funding bill, saying SSA would have to trim staff and walk back some customer service improvements without additional spending.
O’Malley, who served as mayor of Baltimore before becoming Maryland governor and unsuccessfully running for president in 2016, is now seeking the backing of DNC committee members to lead the Democratic Party’s operations.