The acting head of the Social Security Administration says he rescinded and apologized for an order that would have required Maine parents to register their newborns for Social Security numbers at a federal office rather than the hospital.

The reversal by the Trump administration occurred less than a day after the news had spread to health care providers, sparking criticism and questions from Maine's congressional delegation.

Lee Dudek, the acting Social Security Administration commissioner, said in a statement that the agency was “correcting” a decision to change the policy.

Maine officials at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention began notifying providers that the federal government had suspended the in-hospital application process. They said parents will now have to apply in-person at a Social Security office.

Social Security Administration acting Commissioner Lee Dudek announced Friday that he was reversing his decision to suspend a program in Maine that allows parents to apply for a Social Security number for newborn infants by simply filling out a form at the hospital.

Social Security Administration acting head says he rescinded and apologized for order that would have required Maine parents to register newborns at a federal office.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) backtracked on plans to change how newborns will receive their Social Security cards in Maine, but did not say why they initially sought to end enumeration at birth for Pine Tree State residents.