Federal Judge Extends Block on DOGE’s Access to Social Security Data

A federal judge Thursday extended restrictions on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accessing Americans’ personal data held by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander said the plaintiffs in the case — a coalition of unions and retirees represented by Democracy Forward* — were likely to succeed in arguing that the SSA giving DOGE access to the sensitive information likely violated the Privacy Act and other federal laws.

“The issue here is not the work that DOGE or the Agency want to do. The issue is about how they want to do the work,” Judge Hollander, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, wrote. 

“The DOGE Team seeks access to the [personally identifiable information] that millions of Americans entrusted to SSA, and the SSA Defendants have agreed to provide it,” she added. “For some 90 years, SSA has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records. This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation.”

The order prevents DOGE officials, including Musk, from accessing and tampering with electronic systems at SSA and requires them to destroy any personal information they may possess.

However, the judge’s order allows the SSA to give DOGE staffers access to data that’s been redacted or stripped of anything personally identifiable, if they undergo training and background checks.

“This decision sends a clear message to Elon Musk and his DOGE minions to keep their hands off Social Security,” Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said in a statement. “This regime of billionaires is wreaking havoc on the Social Security Administration – rolling out plans to cut services, sowing confusion, disregarding court orders and then denying how their actions will hurt those most vulnerable.”

*Democracy Docket Founder Marc Elias is the chair of Democracy Forward’s board.