- United States
- Va.
- Letter
The actions of Acting Commissioner Dudek are deeply concerning and a flagrant abuse of power. Willfully terminating vital government contracts with the state of Maine, despite being warned it would lead to improper payments and identity theft risks, solely to punish the citizens due to a personal grievance of the president is reprehensible. Public servants must act in the best interests of the American people, not carry out petty retaliation on their behalf. Dudek's comments denigrating Governor Mills are also highly unprofessional and unbecoming of a high-ranking government official. His resignation is warranted to restore integrity and accountability at the Social Security Administration. However, his resignation alone is insufficient - a full investigation into his conduct, communications, and directives around this incident is crucial to get to the bottom of this unethical overreach and ensure no citizens were actually harmed by the momentary termination of these programs. Those responsible for this retaliatory act, regardless of rank, must face appropriate consequences to deter any future abuses of power for personal vendettas against certain states or constituencies. The American people deserve public servants who will faithfully uphold their duties without prejudice or partisan motivations.
