DOGE Demands Data, Mum on Reasons Why

A controversial government initiative, known as DOGE, is under scrutiny for its sweeping requests for access to sensitive government data. Staffers within DOGE have reportedly navigated around established privacy laws, training protocols, and security measures to gain extensive access to financial and personal information stored across various government databases.

Spearheaded by Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claims it’s on a mission to identify waste, fraud, and abuse within government records. However, this broad access has raised concerns among federal judges and privacy advocates.

One federal judge, in an order blocking DOGE’s access to Social Security data, criticized the initiative for failing to provide a clear justification for needing unlimited access to such sensitive information. The judge argued that DOGE’s approach was akin to “hitting a fly with a sledgehammer,” rather than a more targeted effort to modernize systems and uncover fraud.

An NPR investigation, reviewing thousands of pages of court records, revealed a concerning pattern of conflicting information from DOGE regarding the data it has accessed, who has access to it, and, crucially, why this access is necessary.

Concerns are mounting that agencies have rushed to grant DOGE access without sufficient safeguards to protect data or properly document the scope of its activities. In one instance, a judge found that private information of millions of union members was shared with DOGE affiliates who had “no need to know” such sensitive details.

Another judge noted inconsistencies in the government’s own evidence regarding DOGE’s access, highlighting the rushed and politically pressured nature of the initiative. A DOGE employee even mistakenly sent a spreadsheet containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to external officials.

This situation evokes concerns raised during the passage of the Privacy Act of 1974, when lawmakers worried about the potential for a “complete dossier” of information being assembled on individuals by government bureaucrats.

Critics argue that DOGE’s actions circumvent the Privacy Act and established security protocols, potentially endangering the privacy of countless Americans.

The rapid integration of DOGE employees into government systems has alarmed privacy and security advocates, particularly because the government has struggled to articulate a clear and necessary purpose for such extensive data access.

Some legal experts argue that DOGE possesses control over a “staggering” amount of data about Americans, raising concerns about potential misuse and the lack of transparency surrounding its operations.

A recent executive action appears to further encourage data sharing across federal agencies, with little mention of privacy or data security considerations.