A swing district Republican congressman is sounding off after the only Social Security office in his district was shut down.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) is demanding answers from acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek after learning the office in White Plains, New York, is closing in May.
“The decision to close the only Social Security Hearing Office in the Hudson Valley is a slap in the face to thousands of my constituents who rely on these services,” Lawler said in a post on X and in a statement.
The decision to close the only Social Security Hearing Office in the Hudson Valley is a slap in the face to thousands of my constituents who rely on these services. Concerns about mold don’t justify abandoning folks in the Lower Hudson Valley. pic.twitter.com/EmhPOINLTw
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) March 20, 2025
“This office handles over 2,000 backlogged cases and conducts hundreds of in-person hearings every year,” Lawler said. “Telling my constituents that they now have to travel hours to Lower Manhattan, New Haven, the Bronx, or Goshen is completely unacceptable.”
In a call with reporters on Tuesday, Dudek cited “health and safety concerns” in the current building.
“Look, I’m not going to jeopardize the health and safety of my staff nor am I going to jeopardize the health and safety of the public,” Dudek said, addressing the criticism over the building closure. “We closed that building because it was a health and safety issue, we’re addressing it accordingly.”
Lawler acknowledged the problems with mold but said Westchester County had offered alternative space to keep the office open and claimed that SSA refused to explore alternatives offered by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
“Concerns about mold don’t justify abandoning folks in the Lower Hudson Valley,” Lawler said in a statement.
In posts on X, Lawler clarified that the decision to close the White Plains office occurred during the Biden administration in December 2024.
“This was initiated by the Biden Administration,” Lawler wrote, attaching a letter documenting the date.
Dozens of SSA offices are slated to close this year due to actions taken by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The DOGE website listed 47 SSA offices listed for closure.
The closure of the SSA offices comes after news the agency will now require beneficiaries to prove their identity when claiming benefits or changing their direct deposit information to crack down on fraud, a change that could affect millions of recipients and applicants.
SOCIAL SECURITY TO IMPOSE IDENTITY CHECKS AND LIMIT PHONE SERVICES IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN
Beginning on March 31, beneficiaries will no longer be able to verify their identity on the phone. They will either need to register for a “My Social Security” account online or visit a Social Security office. The change will apply to both new applicants and existing recipients who are looking to change their direct deposit information.
Changes are set to go into effect at the end of the month, affecting more than 72 million people. The move to restrict assistance on the phone comes as DOGE has taken a chainsaw to the agency’s operations. At a time when SSA’s staffing is at a 50-year low, the agency announced plans to cut up to 12% of its workforce.
