Michael Astrue, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, will step down from his post next month after six years to return to Massachusetts.
He is the agency’s third longest-tenured SSA commissioner in history behind Arthur Altmeyer, who led the agency between 1946 and 1953, and Robert Ball, who served between 1962 and 1973.
Astrue is also the longest tenured Republican commissioner in the agency’s history, SSA said in its release.
Federal Times reports Astrue’s term ended Jan. 19 but he can stay in the position until the Senate confirms his successor.
During his tenure, he oversaw efforts to update the agency’s medical listings and build a new data center that is scheduled to open next year.
Astrue also led the agency’s initiatives to reduce time of disability hearings from 540 days to nearly 360 days, the agency said.
