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A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Government of Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from accessing sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) data. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander issued the order, deeming DOGE’s request a “fishing expedition” lacking sufficient justification.
Hollander questioned DOGE’s claim of needing access to millions of Americans’ personal records to investigate fraud. She stated that the agency had provided no concrete evidence to support its claims or the necessity of such broad access.
“The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA,” Hollander wrote, “in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion.”
The lawsuit was filed by organizations representing retirees, including the Alliance for Retired Americans. They argued against DOGE’s unrestricted access to private data. The judge’s temporary restraining order prevents DOGE from obtaining this information.
The court highlighted the extent of data DOGE sought, including Social Security numbers, medical and mental health records, financial information, and employment history.
“Defendants…never identified or articulated even a single reason for which the DOGE Team needs unlimited access to SSA’s entire record systems,” Hollander emphasized.
Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, praised the court’s decision, stating, “Seniors must be able to trust the Social Security Administration will protect their personal information.”
This legal challenge adds to a series of obstacles faced by Musk’s initiatives. He has responded by criticizing the judges involved.
Concerns remain that DOGE’s influence, including leadership appointments within the SSA, could weaken the agency and pave the way for privatization. Critics fear the ultimate goal is to undermine the Social Security program.
Keywords: DOGE, Social Security Administration, Elon Musk, data privacy, fraud, SSA, judge, lawsuit, retirees.