At the Social Security Administration, we meet Americans at life’s turning points. Whether retiring, dealing with the loss of a loved one, or applying for disability benefits, the approximately 75 million Americans who receive monthly payments know they can rely on the SSA. Even amid a slew of recent political attacks and a historic government shutdown, we have remained determined to uphold President Donald Trump‘s pledge to protect and preserve Social Security for generations to come. 

As the current SSA commissioner, I am leading a digital-first transformation at the agency to give every American better and faster service. The average speed of answer for the National 800 Number in November was nearly cut in half, with a higher percentage of calls being answered compared to last year under former Commissioner Martin O’Malley. The average wait time for visitors at field offices, with or without appointments, is also down from previous leadership. Under O’Malley, Americans could not manage their benefits online 24/7, as the website had a whopping 29 hours of weekly downtime. I quickly rectified that, and the SSA could have 800 million online transactions by the end of fiscal 2026 — a significant increase from O’Malley’s tenure.  

Despite the overwhelming progress made under Trump’s leadership, O’Malley........

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