SCARBOROUGH, Maine — On Friday, an important update emerged from the Social Security Administration concerning a controversial decision affecting newborn registration in Maine. The acting head of the administration decided to apologize and reverse a previous directive that would have required parents in the state to go to a federal office to register their newborns for Social Security numbers, a departure from the traditional hospital registration.
This change had sparked significant backlash from both medical organizations and state officials. Many criticized the directive as unnecessary and overly punitive, as it deviated from the long-standing Enumeration at Birth program. This program allows parents to obtain a Social Security number for their newborn directly at the hospital or birthing site—a practice integral to the community for many years.
Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek was at the center of this reversal. He initially instructed staff to terminate the Enumeration at Birth contract in Maine but has since recognized the decision’s negative impact. “In retrospect, I realize that ending these contracts created an undue burden on the people of Maine, which was not the intent,” Dudek admitted, announcing the reinstatement of the contract.
This episode of confusion is only the latest in a series of tumultuous events linked to President Donald Trump’s endeavor to reduce the size of government. His administration recently halted the firing of numerous federal employees involved in nuclear weapons programs and began rehiring crucial staff such as medical device inspectors and food safety workers at the Food and Drug Administration. Trump’s strategy, including planned tariffs, has encountered various challenges and controversies.
Though Commissioner Dudek did not initially explain the reasoning behind the termination, Nancy Altman, executive director of the Social Security Works advocacy group, remarked on the situation’s ramifications. Despite the policy reversal, she asserted, “the damage has been done,” highlighting future complications for families and the already downsized Social Security workforce.
These developments have unfolded against the backdrop of broader federal layoffs and cutbacks, driven by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency targeting various agencies. The Enumeration at Birth program has also felt these impacts, as evidenced by contract cancellations in five states and the Northern Mariana Islands—though Maine was absent from the list.
Limited details are available concerning these contract cancellations. However, they seem connected to race and ethnicity record collections. Dudek assured that the Enumeration at Birth program was reinstated nationwide as of Friday.
The turmoil surrounding Maine’s Enumeration at Birth isn’t isolated. It coincides with ongoing tensions between Maine’s state government and the federal administration. Recently, a meeting between President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, saw heated exchanges regarding federal funding. This followed a debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in high school sports.
Further complicating matters, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has since informed Governor Mills that the state was violating Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. As of yet, these disagreements remain unresolved.