Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Judge Restricts DOGE’s Access to Sensitive Social Security Data

A federal injunction requires Elon Musk’s agency to use only redacted records with staff undergoing training and background checks.

FILE - Demonstrators gather outside of the Edward A. Garmatz United States District Courthouse in Baltimore, on Friday, March 14, 2025, before a hearing regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's access to Social Security data. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)
A woman holds a sign during a protest against cuts made by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to the Social Security Administration, in White Plains, New York, U.S., March 22, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Layne/File Photo

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander issued a preliminary injunction limiting the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) access to Social Security data.
  • DOGE staff can only access redacted or non-personally identifiable data, contingent on specialized training and background checks.
  • The ruling follows a lawsuit by labor unions and retirees citing privacy law violations and risks to sensitive information security.
  • The Social Security Administration has faced internal turmoil, including the resignation of Acting Commissioner Michelle King over DOGE’s demands.
  • The injunction may be appealed to the Fourth Circuit Court, which has previously sided with the Trump administration on similar DOGE-related cases.