{"id":2414132,"date":"2025-03-20T21:43:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T01:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-slap-in-the-face-gop-congressman-slams-closure-of-social-security-office-in-district-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T21:43:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T01:43:02","slug":"a-slap-in-the-face-gop-congressman-slams-closure-of-social-security-office-in-district-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-slap-in-the-face-gop-congressman-slams-closure-of-social-security-office-in-district-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018A slap in the face\u2019: GOP congressman slams closure of Social Security office in district &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fa-slap-in-the-face-gop-congressman-slams-closure-of-social-security-office-in-district-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2414132&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">&lsquo;A slap in the face&rsquo;: GOP congressman slams closure of Social Security office in district<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2046454\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A swing district <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican\">Republican<\/a> congressman is sounding off after the only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Social Security\">Social Security<\/a> office in his district was shut down.<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/appeals\/ho_locator.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">closing<\/a> in May.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3354637\/hostile-town-halls-four-takeaways-from-events-leaving-lawmakers-bruised-and-battered\/\">Hostile town halls: Four takeaways from events leaving lawmakers bruised and battered<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3353915\/sean-casten-chastised-town-hall-soulless\/\">Attendee confronts Sean Casten at town hall: &#8216;Soulless piece of crap&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3353106\/effort-build-women-history-museum-national-mall-traction\/\">Effort to build women&rsquo;s history museum on National Mall gains traction<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Lawler said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepMikeLawler\">post<\/a> on X and in a statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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&rsquo;t justify abandoning folks in the Lower Hudson Valley. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EmhPOINLTw\">pic.twitter.com\/EmhPOINLTw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepMikeLawler\/status\/1902813030137602544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This office handles over 2,000 backlogged cases and conducts hundreds of in-person hearings every year,&rdquo; Lawler said. &ldquo;Telling my constituents that they now have to travel hours to Lower Manhattan, New Haven, the Bronx, or Goshen is completely unacceptable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In a call with reporters on Tuesday, Dudek<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3352107\/social-security-impose-identity-checks-older-people-fraud-crackdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> cited<\/a> &ldquo;health and safety concerns&rdquo; in the current building.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Look, I&rsquo;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,&rdquo; Dudek said, addressing the criticism over the building closure. &ldquo;We closed that building because it was a health and safety issue, we&rsquo;re addressing it accordingly.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lawler.house.gov\/news\/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3863\">offered <\/a>by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Concerns about mold don&rsquo;t justify abandoning folks in the Lower Hudson Valley,&rdquo; Lawler said in a statement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In posts on X, Lawler clarified that the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepMikeLawler\/status\/1902845260033634318\">decision<\/a> to close the White Plains office occurred during the Biden administration in December 2024.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This was initiated by the Biden Administration,&rdquo; Lawler wrote, attaching a letter documenting the date.<\/p>\n<p>Dozens of SSA offices are slated to close this year due to actions taken by Elon Musk&rsquo;s Department of Government Efficiency. The DOGE website <a href=\"https:\/\/doge.gov\/savings\">listed<\/a> 47 SSA offices listed for closure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The closure of the SSA offices comes after news the agency will now require beneficiaries to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/news\/press\/releases\/2025\/#2025-03-18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">prove their identity<\/a> when claiming benefits or changing their direct deposit information to crack down on fraud, a change that could affect millions of recipients and applicants.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3352107\/social-security-impose-identity-checks-older-people-fraud-crackdown\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"SOCIAL SECURITY TO IMPOSE IDENTITY CHECKS AND LIMIT PHONE SERVICES IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN\">SOCIAL SECURITY TO IMPOSE IDENTITY CHECKS AND LIMIT PHONE SERVICES IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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 &ldquo;My Social Security&rdquo; 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/news\/workforce\/\">has taken<\/a> a chainsaw to the agency&rsquo;s operations. At a time when SSA&rsquo;s staffing is at a 50-year low, the agency announced plans to cut up to 12% of its workforce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2046454\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2046454\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018A slap in the face\u2019: GOP congressman slams closure of Social Security office in district 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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2414133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mike-Lawler-2025-scaled.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2414132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mike-Lawler-2025-scaled.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2414132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2414132\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2414133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2414132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2414132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2414132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}