On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, NOSSCR attended O’Malley’s final congressional hearing as Commissioner of Social Security. The Commissioner testified before the House Committee on Appropriations’ subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (the Commissioner made sure to point out the absurdity that SSA, one of the largest federal agencies, is relegated to “related agencies” without even being named).

During his testimony, the Commissioner once again emphasized the necessity of proper federal funding in order to effectuate meaningful changes within the agency. O’Malley warned that without adequate IT modernization funding, there exists “a looming problem on the horizon of antiquated IT systems totally breaking down or being shut down by bad actors.” The Commissioner also noted that the agency “would like to put more lines of service online,” but cannot do so without money to support IT improvements.

As has been the norm under Commissioner O’Malley, he adeptly navigated questions from both sides of the aisle with humor and grace, while providing genuine data-backed answers to all inquiries. When questioned about why staff depart the agency, the Commissioner emphasized to the subcommittee that “the biggest driver to the demoralization of this agency is their sense that none of you care what they do. And they see their workloads growing.” Later, while defending the agency’s telework policy, the Commissioner provided some levity by showcasing enlarged photos of the SSA Headquarters’ parking lot, filled to the brim with cars (the Commissioner later signed this photo and gifted it our very own David Camp!).

The Commissioner also addressed the agency’s ruthless focus on SSI recipients, noting that “one of the areas where we really are forced to make the employees and the recipients, some of our poorest fellow citizens, jump through hoops, stand on their head, gargle peanut butter, whistle the Battle Hymn of the Republic, is on SSI. The millions we spend trying to claw back nickels out of poor people’s pockets is appalling. And often people say, ‘Well, you need to simplify SSI.’ Congress needs to simplify SSI.”

At NOSSCR we are grateful for the Commissioner’s service to the agency. From day one, his willingness to actively participate in conversations with NOSSCR and others in the advocacy community was unprecedented. O’Malley has been laser-focused on the data, which resulted in the implementation of meaningful improvements throughout Social Security’s programs. We appreciate his pragmatic leadership, the positive culture shift of accountability that he fostered within the agency, the life-changing policies that he instituted for millions of Americans, and his passionate advocacy on the Hill.

You can watch the hearing in full here.

You can download Commissioner O’Malley’s opening statement here.