WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) notified the Ways and Means Committee that since November 17, 2017 the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been in violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 with respect to the position of Commissioner of Social Security.

In response, Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX) stated:

“Today GAO made clear that the Social Security Administration is in violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. This just reinforces what we already know: Social Security has gone without a Senate-confirmed Commissioner for far too long. This is simply unacceptable. The President needs to nominate a Social Security Commissioner now. The American people deserve nothing less.”

Tomorrow Chairman Johnson will be holding a hearing focused on the need for a Senate-confirmed Commissioner to lead the SSA, the challenges and limitations faced by the SSA when it is led by an Acting Commissioner, and the legal framework for filling a vacancy.

CLICK HERE to read the GAO Opinion.