Testimony by Employees and the Production of Records and Information in Legal Proceedings

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing procedures governing testimony by SSA employees and the production of official records and information in legal proceedings to which SSA is not a party. This rule provides procedures, requirements, and information on how SSA will handle these matters and expressly prohibits any production or testimony except as approved by the Commissioner of Social Security or as Federal law otherwise provides. This rule conserves and ensures more efficient use of SSA's resources in meeting the Agency's mission, promotes consistency in decisionmaking, minimizes the possibility of involving SSA in issues not related to its mission, maintains SSA's impartiality, protects sensitive and confidential information and the deliberative processes of SSA, and enhances SSA's ability to respond efficiently to requests for records, information, or testimony in a legal proceeding.