A U.S. federal judge on Thursday, April 18, restricted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Americans’ personal Social Security data, following mounting concerns from unions over the department’s broad and unchecked authority.
District Judge Ellen Hollander issued the ruling, which blocks DOGE staff from accessing identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, medical records, and bank details. Instead, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may only provide redacted or anonymised records—and only to DOGE personnel who have passed background checks and completed federal privacy training.
The ruling marks another legal obstacle for Musk’s DOGE initiative, which has come under fire for its aggressive cost-cutting agenda that critics say conflicts with President Donald Trump’s policies. The controversy intensified after SSA chief Michelle King resigned in February, allegedly due to pressure from DOGE over access to recipient data.
The lawsuit was filed by multiple unions, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), who accused the SSA of allowing unauthorised DOGE personnel to view sensitive information. AFSCME welcomed the court’s decision, calling it “a critical step” in preventing what they described as DOGE’s “dangerous and unlawful overreach.”
As part of the judgment, DOGE must now erase any non-anonymised Social Security data acquired since Trump took office in January. Going forward, the agency will need a judge’s approval to access such personal data—and only in cases with a compelling justification beyond general claims of fighting fraud or waste.
DOGE, under Musk’s leadership, has faced increased scrutiny over its ambiguous legal authority, potential conflicts of interest, and lack of transparency as an unelected body pushing for sweeping government reforms.
