Overview

• The Supreme Court lifted a lower court injunction and cleared DOGE to access millions of Americans’ Social Security records.
• Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning the ruling grants unfettered access to Social Security numbers, medical records and other sensitive personal information.
• In the Southern District of New York, Judge Denise Cote issued a preliminary injunction barring DOGE from Office of Personnel Management databases for Privacy Act and cybersecurity breaches.
• President Trump created DOGE by executive order without congressional authorization to target waste, fraud and abuse across federal agencies.
• Federal unions and advocacy groups have pledged further legal challenges as the courts balance government efficiency mandates against privacy protections.