A group of labor unions has taken legal action, requesting a federal court to urgently halt Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the sensitive Social Security data of millions of Americans. This motion for emergency relief was filed in Maryland by the legal services group Democracy Forward against the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its acting commissioner, Leland Dudek.
The unions argue that DOGE’s potential reach into this private data raises serious concerns. An affidavit from Tiffany Flick, a former senior official at the SSA, highlights that career civil servants are working hard to safeguard this irreplaceable data. Flick expressed worry that the current situation could lead to significant privacy breaches, stating, “A disregard for our careful privacy systems and processes now threatens the security the data SSA houses about millions of Americans.”
Karianne Jones, a lawyer representing the unions, noted that there remains unclear information regarding the extent of DOGE’s access to taxpayer data. She emphasized that the lack of clarity combined with the broad request for information — essentially “swooping in and bullying” for everything — poses a major risk. “They cannot explain why they want this data. They just want everything without restrictions,” she stated.
As of now, the Social Security Administration has not commented on the ongoing lawsuit first filed last month. It’s important to note that DOGE’s actions have already led to several lawsuits during the initial phase of the Trump administration. Courts have raised concerns about DOGE’s extensive cost-cutting measures, executed with minimal transparency regarding its operations and staffing. However, judges have not consistently deemed the risks to privacy as urgent enough to prevent DOGE from accessing government systems.
There is growing apprehension over potential impacts of across-the-board cuts at the Social Security Administration, which could affect benefits for tens of millions. Proposed changes could result in layoffs of more than 10% of their workforce, along with the possible closure of numerous offices nationwide, aligning with the broader goal of reducing the size of the federal government.
DOGE has previously gained access to other government databases, including those of the Treasury and the IRS, with the administration claiming these measures target waste and fraud in government operations. Notably, a federal judge recently allowed DOGE employees continued access to sensitive Treasury data, although privacy concerns were acknowledged.
Additionally, a February agreement indicates that while one DOGE employee would have access to IRS systems, they would not be granted access to personal taxpayer information, emphasizing the ongoing tension between efficiency measures and the protection of personal data.
