Social Security Administration ‘will be using X to communicate' moving forward
The Social Security Administration (SSA) unveiled Thursday that it would use the social platform X to make announcements going forward, instead of traditional press releases or memos typically posted to the agency's website.
'The agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public — formerly known as Twitter,' Linda Kerr-Davis, SSA Midwest-West regional commissioner told employees in a call Thursday, according to Federal News Network (FNN).
'This will become our communication mechanism,' she told reporters.
The shift comes as communications staff at the agency has dwindled due to reassignments in front-facing roles at field offices across the country. Officials announced that regional SSA offices would no longer have fully staffed public affairs offices as a result.
'If you're used to getting press releases and Dear Colleague letters, you might want to subscribe to the official SSA X account, so you can stay up to date with agency news,' Kerr-Davis said, as reported by FNN.
'I know this probably sounds very foreign to you — it did to me as well — and not what we are used to, but we are in different times now,' she added.
The SSA's last press release, which was posted March 27 on the website, denied reports that local field offices may be closing. It also features a link to an inactive social media account for the agency that encouraged website viewers to follow the press office on X.
The past few months have seen considerable changes at the agency under the Trump administration, which announced new verification standards that were later walked back by officials who said they were evaluating policies to prevent fraud.
The updated policies have caused some concerns for rural communities and people who require assistance to travel to the in-person offices or those who have trouble logging in to their accounts online for help. The final memo on its website said the agency would work with the public to address the issues.
'SSA works closely with local congressional delegations before closing any office permanently,' the last release reads. 'The agency also reassigns employees from an affected office to other locations to help communities access in-person services.'
Officials noted that while no field offices have been permanently closed, some buildings may have their leases terminated as the department has turned mostly to virtual hearings.
The Hill reached out to the SSA for comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
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Video of Bernie Sanders Reacting to Trump's Iran Strike Live Goes Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A video of progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, reacting live at a rally to the news that President Donald Trump had carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites has gone viral on social media. Sanders posted the clip from his "Fight Oligarchy" tour on X, formerly Twitter, late on Saturday. "I learned about Trump's unconstitutional attack on Iran at a large rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here is the response," the senator, who caucuses with Democrats, wrote. As of the time of writing on Sunday afternoon, the video has been viewed more than 5 million times. It has been reposted by 20,000 X users and liked by 101,000. Why It Matters The progressive lawmaker's response came after the U.S. carried out attacks targeting three nuclear sites across Iran—at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump described the operation as a "very successful attack" and has now called for "peace," while Iran has said it will retaliate. Trump's decision came after Israel and Iran have exchanged consistent strikes since June 13. Israel had urged the U.S. to target Iran's nuclear facilities, saying that Tehran was moving close to creating a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian, not military, purposes. The strikes have sparked concerns from some Democrats and some Republicans about a wider war breaking out—with some lawmakers accusing the president of violating the U.S. Constitution with the strikes. Smoke rises as a location targeted by Israel is ablaze in Tehran amid the third day of Israel's waves of strikes against Iran on June 15. Inset: Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, is seen... Smoke rises as a location targeted by Israel is ablaze in Tehran amid the third day of Israel's waves of strikes against Iran on June 15. Inset: Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, is seen on May 14 in Washington, D.C. More Khoshiran/Middle East Images via AFP/What to Know In the 1-minute and 13-second clip, Sanders reads Trump's statement on the Iran strikes to the crowd of rally attendees. Immediately, a loud chorus of boos can be heard from the crowd, demonstrating the attendees' displeasure with the news. The crowd then begins to chant "no more war," with Sanders nodding in agreement. The camera pans out, showing the animated audience raising their fists in the air as they chant, with an American flag visible and being waved by at least one rally goer. "I agree," the senator eventually responds, after allowing the chorus of chants to continue for several seconds. "And I want to tell you something, not only is this news, that I've just is so grossly unconstitutional," he said. "All of you know that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right," Sanders said. His remarks drew a large cheer from the crowd. Last week, in anticipation of a strike on Iran, Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, introduced a War Powers Resolution in a bid to curb the president from escalating the conflict with Iran. After the attack was announced, Massie was quick to respond on X, writing on Saturday: "This is not constitutional." I learned about Trump's unconstitutional attack on Iran at a large rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here is the response: — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 22, 2025 What To Know About U.S. Bombing Iran The U.S. struck Fordow, roughly 60 miles south of Tehran, as well as the Natanz complex to the southeast and Isfahan, southwest of Natanz, Trump said. The president hailed the attacks as a "spectacular military success," adding: "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." 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We're at war with Iran's nuclear operation was really extraordinary. These guys flew from Missouri. They didn't land a single time. They dropped 30,000-pound bombs on a target the size of a washing machine and then got back home safely without ever landing in the Middle East or ever stopping other than to briefly refuel." Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, on X on Sunday: "When two countries are bombing each other daily in a hot war, and a third country joins the bombing, that's an act of war. I'm amazed at the mental gymnastics being undertaken by neocons in DC (and their social media bots) to say we aren't at war... so they can make war." What Happens Next? Iran's foreign minister said after the attack that his country reserves "all options to defend its sovereignty." The U.S. military is preemptively preparing for any attack from Tehran in response. 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Newsweek
4 hours ago
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Dan Caine discusses the mission details of a strike on Iran during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22 in Arlington, Virginia. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine discusses the mission details of a strike on Iran during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22 in Arlington, Virginia. Photo byWhat People Are Saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during Sunday morning's press conference: "The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back when this president speaks, the world should listen and the U.S. military, we can back it up. The most powerful military the world has ever known. No other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is going to outline this morning." Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said during the Sunday morning press conference: "Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice. We will defend ourselves. The safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority. This mission demonstrates the unmatched coordination and capability of the United States military in just a matter of weeks this went from strategic planning to global execution." What Happens Next? While officials believe the sites suffered massive damage, they are still working to determine the extent, while reaction continues to pour out from international leaders as well as U.S. politicians. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei must decide on whether or not to retaliate for the U.S. strikes and whether to continue with negotiations in some form.
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
World Responds to Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. B-2 bombers hit three of Iran's nuclear complexes on Saturday, pulling America into the Middle Eastern conflict, world leaders across the globe have reacted to the escalation. Late on Saturday night, Trump said the sites were "fully obliterated," calling the raids essential to halt Iran's push for a nuclear bomb. Tehran condemned what it called a "criminal" act and said the U.S. had "launched a dangerous war." In a post shared on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, part of Iran's Armed Forces, wrote in Farsi, "Now the war has begun for us." Why It Matters After Saturday's development, concern over an international expansion on the Israel-Iran conflict has ramped up. The strikes follow weeks of rising tensions between Iran and Israel, after an Israeli attack earlier this month on Iranian nuclear and military sites. While the U.S. had previously held back, its direct involvement marks a new phase in the conflict. President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C. on June 21, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C. on June 21, 2025. Carlos Barria/Pool via AP What To Know Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas have condemned the U.S. strikes, vowing to support Iran in its fight against "the Zionist and American aggression." The Iraqi government, which has close relations with both Washington and Tehran, condemned the strikes, saying the military development threatened peace and security in the Middle East. "The continuation of such attacks risks dangerous escalation with consequences that extend beyond the borders of any single state, threatening the security of the entire region and the world," government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement. While it did not condemn the move, Saudi Arabia expressed "deep concern" about the U.S. attacks. "The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation," the kingdom's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Qatar also refraining from condemning the attacks, but said it "regrets" escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran war. Doha's Foreign Ministry urged the countries involved to "avoid escalation, which the peoples of the region, burdened by conflicts and their tragic humanitarian repercussions, cannot tolerate." Condemning the airstrikes, Oman said they threatened "to expand the scope of the conflict and constitute a serious violation of international law and the United Nations charter." Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the U.S. bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no country could bear and called for negotiations. "Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are aware today, more than ever before, that it has paid a heavy price for the wars that erupted on its land and in the region," Aoun said in a statement on X. "It is unwilling to pay more, and there is no national interest in doing so, especially since the cost of these wars was and will be greater than its ability to bear." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Iran's nuclear facilities "represented a danger for the entire area," adding he would speak with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, on Sunday, "to understand the consequences that there may be from a security point of view." British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called for Iran to return to the negotiating table to diplomatically end the crisis—the U.K., along with the European Union, France and Germany, tried unsuccessfully to find a solution in Switzerland last week with Iran. Winston Peters, New Zealand's foreign minister, also called for peace talks, saying the crisis is "the most serious I've ever dealt with." South Korea's presidential office held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the economic and political impacts of the strikes, while Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters Sunday it was crucial to calm the situation as soon as possible. Australia's government, which closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff on Friday, said in a statement: "We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the U.S. President's statement that now is the time for peace." What People Are Saying European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on social media: "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation." U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, wrote on X: "I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge—and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control—with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. I call on member states to de-escalate." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: "Last week, we were in negotiations with the U.S. when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the | decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?" The E3 refers to member states Germany, France and Italy. What Happens Next While a number of leaders have called for Iran to return to the negotiating table, the country's foreign minister has suggested it is unlikely that it will. "To Britain and the EU High Rep, it is Iran which must 'return' to the table. But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?" Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X. This story contains reporting from The Associated Press.
