Federal Judge Blocks DOGE's Access to Social Security Data Amid Concerns for Privacy and Security
A U.S. judge halts DOGE's access to sensitive Social Security data, emphasizing privacy concerns and lack of justification for data access.
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Dudek’s threat to block SSA employees from using the agency’s IT systems — a move that could halt Social Security payments — came in response to a judge’s temporary restraining order in a case brought by the AFL-CIO labor union.
Trump Admin Threatens to Stop Social Security If DOGE Can't Have Personal Data
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The IRS is one of many federal bureaus and agencies under scrutiny by DOGE and the Trump administration.
DOGE deputy, Treasury Secretary dish on crusade to pull the IRS out of its 'really big hole'
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The judge's order blocks the agency from granting DOGE access to systems containing personally identifiable information and orders DOGE members to destroy any data in their possession that identifies individual taxpayers.
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Hollander said the DOGE team's access to the records had violated the Privacy Act as well as other federal laws.
Federal judge temporarily blocks DOGE's access to Social Security data
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Summary
U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander has temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) records, citing privacy law violations and inadequate justification. The ruling came after a lawsuit from unions and advocacy groups who argued that DOGE's extensive data access posed risks to millions of Americans. The judge criticized DOGE's approach as a 'fishing expedition' without concrete evidence of fraud. The decision mandates the destruction of non-anonymized data held by DOGE and allows only anonymized access going forward.
Perspectives
The judge ruled against DOGE's unrestricted access to sensitive Social Security data, labelling their approach as excessive and lacking justification for privacy violations.
DOGE's expansive data access, described as a 'fishing expedition,' could endanger personal information of millions and did not present evidence of a fraud epidemic.
Union leaders hailed the decision as a victory for privacy protection, underscoring the primary concern over the safety and confidentiality of Social Security beneficiaries' information.