Supreme Court gives DOGE access to millions of Americans’ private Social Security data

SCOTUS lets DOGE access Social Security data

The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Department of Government Efficiency is permitted to have access to Social Security records.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday gave the green light for the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access one of the country’s most sensitive databases — the Social Security Administration’s internal systems — which hold information on nearly every American.

The 6–3 decision, split along ideological lines, marks the first major Supreme Court ruling involving DOGE, the controversial agency once led by Elon Musk. The Court’s majority reversed a lower court’s order that limited DOGE’s access under federal privacy law, siding with the administration’s argument that the restrictions were hampering its anti-fraud mission.

Liberal justices dissented, warning the decision erodes vital privacy protections.

What is DOGE and why does it want Social Security data?

The backstory:

The Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — was established during President Trump’s second term and tasked with rooting out government waste and inefficiency. Its first director was Elon Musk, who called the Social Security program a "Ponzi scheme" and repeatedly targeted it as a key source of fraud.

Although Musk has since stepped away from DOGE, the department has continued aggressive efforts to audit and investigate various federal programs. Social Security has remained a top priority.

The administration argued that unfettered access to the SSA’s internal systems was essential to detect abuse, duplication, and improper payouts — particularly in disability and survivor benefits.

How privacy laws clashed with Trump’s push to audit Social Security

Dig deeper:

The case originated in Maryland, where U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander ruled that DOGE’s demand for open access to Social Security data amounted to a "fishing expedition" based on limited evidence of wrongdoing. She blocked broad access but allowed DOGE staff with training and security clearance to view anonymized data, and permitted expanded access only if a specific need was documented.

The Trump administration appealed, arguing the court was overstepping its role and interfering with executive branch operations. An appeals court upheld the partial block, but the Supreme Court has now lifted it entirely.

FILE — A Social Security card is seen alongside U.S. Treasury checks. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency can access sensitive Social Security data, raising concerns about privacy protections for millions of Ameri (Photo illustration by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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Solicitor General John Sauer told the Court the restrictions "micromanaged" DOGE’s work and undermined its mission.

What are the concerns about privacy?

The other side:

Opponents of the ruling, including the plaintiffs represented by the advocacy group Democracy Forward, argue that the Social Security Administration contains deeply personal data: salary history, school records, family relationships, medical conditions, and more.

They warned that handing this information to a politically driven agency without individualized review poses massive privacy risks. Labor unions and retiree groups joined the lawsuit, saying the system could be weaponized against vulnerable Americans.

The dissenting justices agreed. "There is no meaningful check here on the breadth or use of the data," one wrote. "We risk turning privacy law into an empty promise."

Why you should care:

This decision expands the Trump administration’s ability to conduct sweeping audits across government agencies using personal data. While supporters frame it as a win for accountability and fraud reduction, critics say it weakens safeguards that prevent misuse of federal databases.

It also sets a precedent for how much control the courts can — or cannot — exert over federal agency operations, a core issue as Trump’s administration continues to consolidate executive power.

What's next:

With the Supreme Court’s backing, DOGE is expected to move quickly in analyzing Social Security data. Critics worry this could lead to mass denials of benefits or politically motivated reviews. Supporters say it could lead to cost-saving reforms.

The agency, which has faced more than two dozen lawsuits, remains under scrutiny. Legal challenges are ongoing regarding its personnel decisions, data practices, and oversight authority.