Elon Musk’s DOGE team allegedly jeopardized millions of Americans’ privacy by improperly accessing and sharing sensitive Social Security data.
Story Highlights
- DOGE employees accessed Social Security data prohibited by court order.
- Data was shared via unauthorized servers, risking privacy breaches.
- The Trump administration admits to violations, contrasting past assurances.
- Coordination with advocacy group adds election security concerns.
Unauthorized Data Access by DOGE
In a startling revelation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk’s leadership, accessed Social Security data without proper authorization. This violation of a court order was part of a broader initiative to identify fraud within federal agencies. However, this mission appears to have overstepped legal boundaries, placing millions of Americans’ personal information at risk.
The data breach involved DOGE representatives using Cloudflare, a third-party provider not approved for storing such sensitive information, to share data. This action directly contradicts earlier assurances by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that all DOGE personnel adhered to strict privacy and ethics training, raising questions about oversight and compliance within federal operations.
Bombshell update in our case: The admin reveals DOGE accessed, shared, and may have even exported Americans' personal Social Security information to an external group despite a court order blocking it.
We will see them back in court. pic.twitter.com/pIgJu2BlM9
— Democracy Forward (@DemocracyFwd) January 21, 2026
Implications for Election Security
The incident has taken a political turn, with DOGE’s coordination with a political advocacy group aiming to analyze state voter rolls. This collaboration, revealed through a “Voter Data Agreement,” suggests a potential misuse of Social Security data in efforts to influence electoral outcomes. Such an implication adds a constitutional dimension to the data privacy concerns, as it touches on the integrity of election processes.
In response to these revelations, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has issued a preliminary injunction halting DOGE’s access to SSA data. The court’s actions reflect the gravity of the situation, as the Trump administration attempts to manage the fallout from these disclosures while maintaining DOGE’s operational capacity.
Watch:
Whistleblower Vindication and Consequences
The situation has also brought attention to whistleblower protections, with SSA whistleblower Charles Borges’ prior warnings about data security now validated. Borges faced retaliation for raising these concerns, shedding light on the challenges faced by federal employees in safeguarding data integrity. The court filing has not only vindicated Borges but also raised broader questions about accountability and whistleblower protections within government agencies.
As the case progresses through the legal system, it underscores the need for clear guidelines and robust oversight mechanisms to protect sensitive information and maintain public trust in government institutions.
Sources:
Axios Report on DOGE Employees Accessing Social Security Data
FedScoop Analysis on DOGE’s Social Security Data Access
AFSCME’s Statement on DOJ’s Acknowledgment of Misconduct
Democracy Forward’s Legal Response to DOGE’s Data Access
KATV Report on DOGE’s Use of Unsecured Server
Politico Coverage of Trump Administration’s Admission
