Senate confirms Martin O’Malley as head of Social Security Administration

The Senate on Monday confirmed former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley to lead the Social Security Administration as the agency faces looming questions about its long-term solvency, systemic dysfunction and ability to handle day-to-day customer service requests.

O’Malley, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, was approved by a vote of 50 to 11. A handful of Republicans joined Democrats in voting for O’Malley as the agency’s commissioner after he earned a reputation as a technocrat, in part, by focusing on measuring government performance.