A federal judge in Baltimore has temporarily restricted the access of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to sensitive Social Security data, following concerns over privacy and security risks.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday, after labor unions and retirees filed a lawsuit claiming DOGE’s actions could violate privacy laws and expose millions of Americans to potential misuse of personal information.
While Hollander’s injunction allows DOGE staffers to access data that has been redacted or anonymized, it imposes strict limitations.
DOGE staff must undergo training and background checks, and they are prohibited from using non-anonymized data they received since January 20, 2025.
Additionally, the department must remove any software or code previously installed on Social Security Administration (SSA) systems and refrain from sharing or altering the code.
Judge Hollander acknowledged the importance of addressing waste and fraud in government programs but emphasized that these objectives must be pursued without undermining privacy protections that have existed for nearly a century.
“For some 90 years, SSA has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records,” Hollander wrote, expressing concern over the breach of this principle.
The case has sparked significant public debate, with protests outside the courthouse from union members and retirees who fear that DOGE’s access could threaten Social Security benefits.
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Plaintiffs argue that the department’s access to sensitive data, including medical and mental health records, would create an “objectively reasonable unease” among recipients.
This ruling comes amid turmoil at the SSA, with recent leadership changes and growing criticism of the administration’s handling of the agency.
Leland Dudek, the newly appointed SSA commissioner, has faced calls for resignation over controversial decisions, including an attempt to restrict newborn Social Security registrations in Maine.
The judge’s decision also reflects broader concerns about DOGE’s expanding role in accessing private information across multiple federal agencies, further complicating an already contentious political landscape.
