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Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) protested the closing down of the Hudson Valley’s only Social Security Hearing Office on Thursday, calling it a “slap in the face” to thousands of New Yorkers.
“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,” wrote Lawler in a social media post. “Concerns about mold don’t justify abandoning folks in the Lower Hudson Valley.”
He continued, “This office handles over 2,000 backlogged cases and conducts hundreds of in-person hearings every year. Telling my constituents that they now have to travel hours to Lower Manhattan, New Haven, the Bronx, or Goshen is completely unacceptable.”
In another post, Lawler dismissed speculation that the office was closing as a result of cuts by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and claimed that the move had instead been initiated by former President Joe Biden.
“To resolve any confusion, this was an action initiated by the Biden admin,” he said, citing an email from the Social Security Administration which read, “The final decision to close the White Plains OHO was made during December 2024.”
While the closure appears to have been initiated by the Biden administration, President Donald Trump’s Social Security commissioner reportedly turned down offers to host the office elsewhere.
After Rep. George Latimer (D-NY) offered to provide “County space to keep these important services in White Plains,” Trump’s Social Security commissioner declined and told White Plains residents to drive an hour away to other offices in New York and Connecticut.
Musk and his department have received criticism from lawmakers over their cuts to the Social Security system in recent months, with some even predicting a collapse.
“Ultimately, you’re going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits,” warned former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley this month. “I believe you will see that within the next 30 to 90 days.”
Rep. John Larson (D-CT) warned Musk was “out to privatize Social Security,” while Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) accused the billionaire of trying to “wreck” the Social Security system on purpose.
