Former Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek must be a skilled contortionist, because he tied himself into knots attacking a true champion of Social Security, Rep. John Larson (D-CT) in a recent Hartford Courant opinion piece — only a few months before Connecticut’s Democratic primary. (Our PAC has endorsed Congressman Larson for re-election as a longtime champion of Social Security.)
Dudek’s column prompted a letter to the editor by NCPSSM CEO, Max Richtman:::
“I’m not sure why Leland Dudek felt compelled to inject himself into Connecticut’s District-01 Democratic primary by smearing the incumbent. I have known the congressman for nearly three decades; There is no more passionate protector of Social Security in the U.S. House than John Larson.” – NCPSSM President Max Richtman, letter to the editor of the Hartford Courant
It’s beyond audacious that Dudek, who handed the keys to the Social Security Administration to Elon Musk and DOGE in 2025, accuses Rep. Larson of undermining the program. Dudek spent his time at SSA aligning himself with DOGE, not protecting beneficiaries. The acting commissioner essentially enabled the Trump regime to:
*Cut more than 7,000 jobs SSA, creating an understaffing crisis and massive “brain drain.”
*Copy huge troves of Americans’ personal data to be misused and abused for purposes unrelated to Social Security
*Weaken customer service on phone lines; close and understaff SSA field offices.
*Manipulate statistics to make it appear that customer service had improved, when the opposite is true
Meanwhile, Congressman Larson, as ranking member of the House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee, has demanded accountability and transparency. He accused Musk and DOGE of “the largest data theft in American history” – and called for participants in the stolen data scheme to be prosecuted.
We’re not sure why fmr. SSA acting commissioner Leland Dudek (right) gratuitously attacked Rep. John Larson, a bona fide champion of Social Security
Dudek bizarrely accuses Larson of “inaction” on Social Security, despite the fact that the congressman introduced (with more than 200 U.S. House cosponsors) the Social Security 2100 Act – to extend trust fund solvency and expand benefits. Rep. Larson also has been one of the loudest voices against Republican proposals to cut and privatize Social Security. (The 14-term congressman earns a 100% rating on our NCPSSM legislative scorecard.)
In Dudek’s alternate universe, Rep. Larson somehow abets President Trump’s agenda. In reality, the congressman has rightly warned that Trump is attempting to “dismantle and privatize” Social Security through “chaos and confusion.” But instead of apologizing to the people of Connecticut for his role in compromising Social Security, Dudek deflects by attacking seniors’ staunchest ally on Capitol Hill, Congressman John Larson.
Leland Dudek lets DOGE run amok at SSA (ProPublica)
As Rep. Larson said last year, “When we take back the House of Representatives, Social Security will be our top priority, and action will take place within the first 100 days. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, it’s time to not only speak up, but speak out and act.” This cuts right to the core difference between Dudek’s record and Larson’s. Dudek enabled enormous disruption at the agency that delivers Americans’ earned benefits; John Larson has consistently fought to defend and boost those benefits.
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For another perspective on Larson’s candidacy, click HERE
Listen to Congressman Larson on our podcast HERE
Watch Rep. Larson chatting with our CEO Max Richtman HERE