Trump Administration Reverses Controversial Social Security Rule in Maine

A directive requiring parents to visit Social Security offices to register newborns was rescinded after widespread criticism.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) reversed a decision to end the Enumeration at Birth (EAB) program in Maine, reinstating the ability for parents to register newborns for Social Security numbers at hospitals.
The initial policy change, announced earlier this week, would have required parents to travel to one of Maine's eight Social Security offices, causing logistical and health concerns for families, particularly in rural areas.
Critics, including pediatricians and advocacy groups, condemned the move as burdensome, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous for families with newborns.
Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek apologized for the decision, acknowledging it created undue hardship but did not provide a clear explanation for the initial termination of contracts.
The reversal follows heightened tensions between Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump over unrelated policy disputes, leading to speculation about political motivations behind the initial decision.