The acting head of the Social Security Administration says he rescinded and apologized for an order that would have required Maine parents to register their newborns for Social Security numbers at a federal office rather than the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

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

Update: Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Lee Dudek announced the reversal of a decision terminating Enumeration at Birth in Maine in a Friday statement, calling it a "mistake" and directing the programs be reinstated.