A federal judge in Baltimore is deliberating on a request to temporarily prevent Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) systems. This legal action comes in response to a lawsuit by labor unions and retirees opposing DOGE’s potential overreach into personal data.
The plaintiffs argue that DOGE’s broad access breaches privacy laws and exposes Americans’ private information to considerable security risks. A former Social Security official expressed concerns over the risk of sensitive data being mismanaged after witnessing DOGE’s rapid integration into the agency.
However, the Trump administration defends DOGE’s actions as necessary for identifying waste and combating fraud within government operations. During a court hearing, U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander challenged this position, emphasizing the potential overkill in accessing vast amounts of personal data when a more refined approach could possibly achieve similar objectives. Judge Hollander remarked that the administration’s tactics resembled “hitting a fly with a sledgehammer” and questioned the necessity and justification for such extensive data access.
Government lawyers stated that DOGE comprises a 10-person team assigned to the SSA, with seven members granted read-only access to sensitive data, all having undergone privacy training and background checks. They argued that this practice aligns with existing procedures permitting employees and auditors limited access to SSA databases.
On the contrary, the plaintiffs’ attorneys deemed this level of access unprecedented. Alethea Anne Swift of Democracy Forward, a legal services group advocating for the plaintiffs, described the situation as a “sea change” in safeguarding personal information.
Outside the courthouse, union workers and retirees voiced their concerns, rallying to defend Social Security benefits. Retirees like Ronnie Bailey expressed their distrust in DOGE’s involvement, emphasizing the vital role Social Security plays in their lives. Similarly, Agnes Watkins, another retiree, shared her apprehension about the safety of her private information.
Protesters displayed signs urging the protection of Social Security benefits while chanting against DOGE. Besides Social Security, DOGE reportedly gained access to databases within other government agencies, including the Treasury and IRS.
Post-inauguration, DOGE members hurried to integrate into the SSA, requesting expedited access to data systems typically restricted even from government insiders, as detailed in court documents. The urgency and scope of their data requests raised alarms about possible inaccuracies and hasty decision-making, according to Tiffany Flick, a former official.
Judge Hollander, appointed by Barack Obama, is not the first to face a DOGE-related case. Numerous lawsuits reveal glimpses into the secretive workings of DOGE, a team eager to further its cost-cutting agenda. Yet, despite frequent scrutiny from judges, there’s been hesitation to impose blocks on DOGE, often finding the potential consequences not pressing enough to warrant such action.