Statement from Acting Commissioner Dudek about Temporary Restraining Order
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 26, 2025
“Today, the Court issued clarifying guidance about the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) related to DOGE employees and DOGE activities at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Therefore, I am not shutting down the agency. President Trump supports keeping Social Security offices open and getting the right check to the right person at the right time. SSA employees and their work will continue under the TRO.”
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Rebecca P.
How could the judge’s orders be misinterpreted? It was my understanding the TRO was for DOGE employees, not SSA employees. Does Dudek think he and SSA are employees of DOGE? Hello, anybody home in there?
Citizen W.
Yes, Dudek is the acting puppet commissioner, who admirably is doing his best despite knowing he also will probably lose his job when a new commissioner is appointed. All senior level employees across the U.S., the people who spent 20+ years being the rudder and advisors to many commissioners and who have seen presidents come and go have been forced to resign or retire. SSA is a chaotic mess.
Cheryl A.
That was not what was said.
wewanttruth
It was a vague 137 order.
teacher
I was in AFT all my professional life. It does not bother me at all that DOGE is trying to help find out where some of the fraud is. I am more concerned abut the vague order and its angry tone. I saw the 137 page order and the follow up letter. I wish the judges would let SSA do its job.
Martha
The TRO addressed the concerns that a non-elected, non-vetted agency/department (?) was going to access your private information. That is an illegal act. Whether you agree with DOGE having access or not, it is still illegal for DOGE to access your information. That information will be available to persons with no background checks, no training in auditing nor medical training to interpret the information people that receive disability thru Social Security but they would’ve seen it all had the court had not ruled a TRO. Those untrained individuals would know your address, phone, social security number, your bank account numbers and if you are disabled, they would see all doctors notes and diagnoses. The Judge’s ruling TRO gives DOGE time to show the court WHY their department would need to know this information. In other words, her ruling protected your information until DOGE-a department with no LEGAL reason to see your info-needs or wants to see it. She did millions of people a huge favor. Time will show how DOGE responds and if they let you and millions of recipients know why they NEED to see your info. All DOGE has to do is show why and then the court will rule either to allow it or not.
Amy
You have no concept of the financial struggles many retirees deal with on a daily basis. And, as many young people are not achieving home ownership (a pathway to generational wealth) this problem will only become worse. You, personally, are going to be fine in your twilight years. Your job is to insure everyone else does too.
Tom K.
Please remind Acting Commissioner Dudek that while he serves at the pleasure of the President, _it is the people, not the President, who he serves_. That important item seems to have been missed during his orientation. Thank You.
Terrie C.
Baby Don can not shut down our Social Security. He just thinks he can.
Barbara A.
Any answers from the SSA in regards to when Elon Musk will stop payments altogether would be great since Im disabled and pay my bills, eat, pay insurance.. etc.. bc without my monthly check I’ll die. The SSA had zero business letting DOGE come in and now we’re all threatened so I urge you to figure out a contingency plan. Our bills, meds, food won’t wait for our payments. I’m not comfortable leaving my name etc since Howard Lutnick said if we complain we didn’t get our payments then we’re defrauding the govt. It took me yrs to get my SSDI. Tired of being threatened.
Terri C.
I am alarmed that shutting down the agency was even a consideration. You work for us remember and your role is not political, it is administrative.
Mary-Jane N.
Leland Dudek need’s to submit a letter of resignation as he’s oblivious to who he works for & it’s not the crazy South African who thinks it’s funny to fire people or is it the orange incompetent in the Oval Office. We, the citizenry of the US of A are his employer, pay his salary & decide what happens to the SSA.
Linda F.
“Therefore you won’t be shutting down the agency”? So you HAD planned to illegally shut down the agency contrary to what the president said? Those unqualified civilian Department of Government Extinction guys have no business with their grubby hands in our business. Stop it