Lawmakers are demanding the resignation of Leland Dudek, the acting head of the Social Security Administration, after leaked emails showed that the agency cut off Maine from a late-age insurance program as revenge for the state’s Governor, Janet Mills, opposing the Trump administration.
On Tuesday, Representative Gerry Connolly called for Dudek’s resignation. Connolly’s office released emails showing Dudek asked his staff to cancel contracts with Maine, even though he knew it would lead to more fraud and waste. The emails suggest the decision was made in retaliation for Governor Mills’ public disagreement with President Trump’s policies.
“Despite reinstating the contracts on March 7, 2025, and claiming that he didn’t intend to harm the people of Maine, the emails show that Dudek knew canceling the programs would hurt people in Maine and waste taxpayer money just to get back at President Trump,” Connolly’s office stated.
In the emails, Dudek admitted that canceling the contracts would lead to more improper payments and potential identity theft, but he justified it by saying, “no money will go from the public trust to a petulant child,” referring to Governor Mills, reported the New Republic.
The move came just days after a tense exchange between Trump and Mills over one of the president’s executive orders. In February, during a meeting with governors, Trump singled out Maine for defying his order banning transgender women from participating in women’s college sports.
Trump asked, “Are you not going to comply with it?”
Mills responded, “I’m complying with state and federal law.”
Trump was not satisfied with her answer and warned, “You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.”
Mills fired back, saying, “See you in court.”
Trump responded, “Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
Since then, Trump has cut federal funding to the University of Maine System, which supports seven colleges in the state.
An email from the Agriculture Department, obtained by the Bangor Daily News, explained the funding cut: “This pause is temporary in nature while USDA evaluates if it should take any follow-on actions related to prospective Title VI or Title IX violations. This pause will remain in effect until further notice.”
