Overview

• The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Maryland judge's injunction blocking DOGE from accessing unrestricted Social Security data.
• The decision requires DOGE to delete all personally identifiable information it has obtained and limits future access to redacted data only after staff training and background checks.
• The case stems from lawsuits filed by labor unions and advocacy groups, citing privacy law violations and cybersecurity risks posed by DOGE's practices.
• The Trump administration, which established DOGE to reduce federal waste, is considering appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Judges supporting the injunction emphasized the sensitive nature of Social Security data and the public's expectation of its protection, rejecting DOGE's argument for broader access.