Yesterday the Social Security Administration formally announced what many of us have known for a while — Commissioner Michael Astrue is stepping down.

During his lengthy tenure the administrator did some good things and some bad things. I think it’s fair to say that most lawyers who deal with the Social Security Administration have mixed feelings, but will spend more time wondering who the replacement will than worrying about losing Commissioner Astrue.

Here is the beginning of the official announcement:

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today informed his employees that he will be leaving the agency next month to return to his home in Massachusetts. Commissioner Astrue has completed a six-year term and has been serving under the holdover provisions of the agency’s authorizing statute. He has served longer than any Republican Commissioner and longer than any Commissioners except Arthur J. Altmeyer (1940-46) and Robert M. Ball (1962-73).