O’Malley resigns as SSA commissioner to pursue DNC chair

Martin O’Malley, former Maryland governor and current Social Security Administration commissioner, has announced his resignation from SSA effective 29 November to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), reports the Baltimore Banner. With experience in local, state, and federal governance, O’Malley aims to revitalize the party through a modernized 50-state strategy akin to Howard Dean’s model.

In his final testimony before resigning, he highlighted the agency's challenges amid ongoing fiscal uncertainties. He urged Congress to approve the Biden administration’s proposed $15.4 billion budget for fiscal 2025, warning that cuts could exacerbate staffing shortages, reduce services, and delay IT modernization. SSA currently operates on $14.2 billion, with O’Malley emphasizing that insufficient funding would lead to hiring freezes, halted services, and outdated systems "cratering" under growing demands.

SSA faces a historic low in staffing while serving an increasing beneficiary population, leading to lagging customer service and rising employee attrition. O’Malley’s resignation and the looming 20 December 2024 budget deadline place the agency’s future in sharper focus. Without adequate funding, O’Malley warned, SSA risks further operational and technological decline. Republican lawmakers questioned SSA’s cost-efficiency despite prior budget increases, signaling tough negotiations ahead for SSA’s resources and modernization needs.