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Judge Restricts DOGE’s Access to Social Security Data Over Privacy Concerns

A federal injunction limits Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to redacted data access, citing privacy violations and security risks.

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)
Image
Main: Elon Musk showing off T-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, March 9, 2025. Inset: The sign for the National Labor Relations Board, downtown Washington, July 17, 2013.
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 requiring DOGE to purge non-anonymized Social Security data acquired since January 20, 2025.
  • DOGE staff can only access redacted Social Security data after completing training and passing background checks, as mandated by the court.
  • Whistleblower reports and congressional inquiries allege DOGE is working to merge data from multiple federal agencies into a centralized database, raising privacy and cybersecurity concerns.
  • The Social Security Administration’s leadership has faced upheaval, with Acting Commissioner Michelle King resigning after refusing DOGE access, and her replacement, Leland Dudek, absent from key hearings.
  • House Democrats have called for investigations into DOGE’s alleged cross-agency data consolidation, citing potential violations of privacy laws and risks to national security.