Watchdog: Social Security acting head hasn't been authorized to serve for months

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY JOHN BOWDEN - 03/10/18 04:00 PM EST

The acting head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been prohibited by law from serving in her position for months, a government watchdog informed the White House this week.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) sent a letter to President Trump this week saying that Nancy Berryhill is in violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which generally bars acting agency chiefs from serving in the post for more than 210 days. Berryhill was appointed to her position on Jan. 23, 2017, days after Trump entered office.

"Specifically, we are reporting that the service of Nancy A. Berryhill as Acting Commissioner at SSA after November 17, 2017, is in violation of the Act," GAO general counsel Thomas Armstrong wrote to the White House.

“We have previously determined that using the acting title of a position during the period in which the position should be vacant violates the time limitations in the Vacancies Reform Act,” the letter continued. “Therefore Ms. Berryhill was not authorized to continue serving using the title of Acting Commissioner after November 16.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377765-social-security-acting-head-hasnt-been-authorized-to-serve-since-nov

[Angry Dragon]

1. Just another cheat

[AncientGeezer]

2. She was put there by President Obama in '16

From a link in the article.... "According to SSA, Ms. Berryhill became Acting Commissioner pursuant to a memorandum of December 23, 2016, issued by President Obama establishing an order of succession for the performance of the functions and duties of the office of the Commissioner of Social Security"

Do we want a dumpster appointee or President Obama's choice for ANYTHING Social Security related?

[NCjack]

3. Assign Jared to be the Acting Commiss. nt

[IronLionZion]

4. Trump should retire and spend more time with his family

if he can't be bothered to do his job

[Igel]

5. Yeah, it's horrible.

http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2018/03/lawmakers-both-sides-aisle-ramp-pressure-permanent-ssa-leader/146484/

. Currently, the SSA lacks a commissioner, deputy commissioner and inspector general, the GAO noted. President Obama’s nominee to lead SSA, Carolyn Colvin, never received a full Senate vote, but served in an acting capacity from 2013 until the end of 2016.

Berryhill, previously the deputy commissioner for operations at the $12 billion agency of 64,000 employees, has worked there for 40 years. On Wednesday, her acting press spokesman Mark Hinkle said in email to Government Executive, “Out of an abundance of caution, the agency had already taken steps in November 2017 to ensure that agency operations continue uninterrupted. Moving forward, Nancy Berryhill will continue to lead the agency from her position of record, deputy commissioner of operations. What truly matters are the people the agency serves every day. Beyond the change in title, there will be no impact in the agency’s service to the American public and normal operations will continue.”

Yeah. Trump hasn't nominated anybody for this job. On the other hand, if he did, would the nominee be approved?

[duforsure]

6. Because

the gop and trump want it destroyed .

[AncientGeezer]

7. She was put there by President Obama. She doesn't want it destroyed.

On her worst day she's better than ANY Orange freakshow appointee

[BlueMTexpat]

10. + a million! eom

[keithbvadu2]

8. Wasn't this brought up several months ago?

[Achilleaze]

9. VIOLATORS (R)

KGOP, inc. slithers deeper and deeper into the darkside.

[strangedaysindeed]

11. HA 'The KGOP'

That's a Great one!