Former MD Gov. O'Malley Nominated To Lead Social Security Office

WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to lead the Social Security Administration, according to a White House announcement.

O'Malley served as governor from 2007 to 2015 and was Baltimore's mayor for two terms. He ran as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 but has ruled out running in the future.

If confirmed, O'Malley would run one of the biggest social programs in the nation and grapple with the surrounding uncertainty over its funding. Roughly 70 million people — including retirees, disabled people and children — receive Social Security benefits.

"Governor O’Malley is a lifelong public servant who has spent his career making government more accessible and transparent while keeping the American people at the heart of his work," Biden said in a statement.

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees workers union, applauded O’Malley’s nomination, and said he “is a strong advocate for working people and labor rights, and he has the skills and experience necessary to tackle the various challenges facing SSA like the recruitment and retention of its dedicated workforce.”

Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said her organization “applauds the nomination of Governor O’Malley, a longtime Social Security champion."

“Like President Biden, O’Malley supports expanding Social Security’s modest benefits, not cutting them," Altman said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.