Back in February, we warned that DOGE was compromising Americans’ personal information by accessing sensitive Social Security data:
“Seniors, their families, and people with disabilities most certainly cannot trust Trump and Musk with their crucial federal benefits — or their personal data.” – Max Richtman, NCPSSM President, 2/3/25
This week, our fears were confirmed. For no justifiable reason, DOGE team members uploaded the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans to “a vulnerable cloud server,” according to a whistleblower within the Social Security Administration (SSA). As Trump himself would say, they mishandled our data ‘very badly.’
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that SSA’s chief data officer, Charles Borges, filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that DOGE members “copied the data to a server that only DOGE could access… creating enormous vulnerabilities.”
A subsequent CNN story underlined the dangers of this reckless move. Correspondent Matt Egan reported that DOGE’s “move fast, break things” strategy at SSA could lead to “widespread identity theft.” Egan warned that if the data uploaded to the unsecure cloud server is breached, the government might have to re-issue Social Security numbers to everyone who currently has one.
Last winter, we implored the courts to halt DOGE’s invasion of SSA’s database. A lower court in Maryland blocked DOGE’s insidious efforts. But in June, the Supreme Court’s right-wing majority overturned that ruling, allowing DOGE unfettered access. Investigative journalist Marcy Wheeler explains:
“Once SCOTUS (ruled), SSA’s General Counsel told the DOGE boys to blow off the (Chief Data Officer, Charles Borges), who is the whistleblower, and not just create a live replica (of the SSA database), but to do so without any audit trail.” – Marcy Wheeler, journalist/blogger
A former 42-year SSA employee who consults with NCPSSM on Social Security issues tells us:
“After DOGE took over at SSA, senior officials were dismissed and run out of the agency as they fought to protect this data. Everyone with any experience or knowledge raised alarms. No one knows or can predict what eventual use or misuse will occur here — because it is limitless.”
Democrats on Capitol Hill are, to say the least, disturbed by this week’s revelations. “Credible whistleblower claims show our worst fears have come true: the Trump Administration is carelessly and dangerously mishandling the people’s most private information,” said Reps. John Larson and Richard Neal, ranking members of the House Ways & Means Social Security subcommittee.
Reps. John Larson (D-CT) and Richard Neal (D-MA)
Congressmen Larson and Neal have introduced the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act to block political appointees, including DOGE members, from accessing sensitive SSA data systems.
The legislation would also establish privacy requirements for beneficiary data — and strengthen oversight and civil penalties for violating Social Security beneficiaries’ personal information. We endorsed the bill, with NCPSSM President Max Richtman writing to Reps. Larson and Neal: “On behalf of all working Americans and their families, we appreciate your steadfast support for this critical agency — and its mission to deliver the benefits workers have earned during their working lives.”
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Listen to former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley warning about the dangers of DOGE on our podcast here.
Watch our new documentary, “Social Security: 90 Years Strong” here.