SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue Ends 6 Year Term

Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Michael J. Astrue ended his six year term as Commissioner of the SSA January 19, 2013. Astrue will stay on as Commissioner until his replacement is confirmed by the U.S Senate.

SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue

Astrue's career is highlighted by his launch of SSA Retirement Estimator program, electronic funds transfer program to reduce the number of paper checks used to pay benefits, and his refusal to file an answer to a lawsuit filed by Dr. Orly Taitz, Esq. concerning Obama's Connecticut Social Security Number (SSN).

Taitz filed, in propria persona, a FOIA lawsuit against Astrue in his capacity as the Commissioner of the SSA in February, 2011 alleging he improperly refused to disclose information about Obama's SSN.

Taitz is noted for her refusal to partially redact a portion of the alleged SSN of Obama in her court filings per Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). United States District Court, for the District of Columbia (USDCDC) Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth wrote in a Court memorandum, "There is no logical explanation she can provide as to why she is now wasting the Court’s time, as well as the staff’s time, with these improper redactions." On August 30, 2011, the court granted summary judgment in favor of the SSA. See Memorandum and Order courtesy of Legal Times.

FRCP 5.2(a)(1) states only the last four digits of a SSN are to be filed with the Court. CJ Lamberth dismissed Taitz's opposition to defendant's Summary Judgement Motion and attached exhibits for repeatedly failing to follow FRCP 5.2(a)(1). Without opposition, defendant's Summary Judgement Motion, and attached exhibits, was granted on July 25, 2011.