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Judge Blocks DOGE from Accessing Sensitive Social Security Data

The federal ruling halts Elon Musk-led government initiative over privacy violations and lack of legal compliance.

Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025.
The US Social Security Administration headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration and her top deputy have left following a confrontation with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency team over access to data on 70 million beneficiaries, according to people familiar with the moves. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg
A sign in front of the entrance of the Security Administration's main campus on March 19, 2025 in Woodlawn, Maryland.
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Overview

  • A Maryland federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking DOGE from accessing sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) data.
  • Judge Ellen Hollander criticized DOGE's actions as a 'fishing expedition' lacking justification and violating the Privacy Act.
  • The order mandates DOGE to delete any non-anonymized data it has obtained and limits future access to anonymized data under strict conditions.
  • Labor unions filed the lawsuit, arguing DOGE's broad data access violated privacy laws and agency regulations.
  • The judge highlighted the administration's failure to explain why DOGE needed sweeping access and noted the irony of concealing DOGE staff identities while accessing Americans' private data.