A coalition of labor unions has filed an emergency motion in federal court to prevent Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Social Security data. The request, filed late Friday in a Maryland federal court, seeks to stop DOGE from gaining access to the personal data of millions of Americans, held by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The motion was submitted by Democracy Forward, a legal services organization, representing several unions and a retirees’ group. The unions are asking the court to block DOGE’s access to SSA data, citing concerns over privacy and the lack of transparency surrounding DOGE’s intentions. The legal filing includes an affidavit from Tiffany Flick, a former senior SSA official, who claims that career civil servants are actively working to protect the data from potential misuse by DOGE. Flick described the situation as a threat to the security of personal data, stating, “A disregard for our careful privacy systems and processes now threatens the security the data SSA houses about millions of Americans.”
Karianne Jones, a lawyer representing the unions, expressed uncertainty about the exact scope of DOGE’s access to the data but emphasized that the lack of clarity is concerning. “The potential impact is huge,” Jones said, describing DOGE’s actions as “bullying” and accusing the department of seeking unchecked access to a wide range of personal data. “They can’t explain why they want this data. They just want everything. They want the source code, and they want to do it without any restrictions,” Jones added.
The lawsuit, filed last month, comes amid growing scrutiny of DOGE’s operations and its work under the Trump administration. In recent years, DOGE has faced several lawsuits related to its cost-cutting efforts, which have been implemented with minimal public information. While some judges have raised concerns about the sweeping nature of these efforts, they have not always agreed that immediate action is necessary to block DOGE’s access to government systems.
The unions’ legal challenge also comes at a time when the SSA is facing across-the-board cuts, with reports suggesting that over 10% of its workforce could be laid off and dozens of offices might close. These cuts have raised alarm over potential disruptions to benefits for tens of millions of Americans who rely on Social Security.
In addition to its involvement with the SSA, DOGE has previously gained access to other sensitive government databases, including those at the Treasury and IRS. However, a federal judge in Washington recently denied a request to block DOGE employees from accessing Treasury systems containing personal data. Although privacy concerns were acknowledged, the judge allowed DOGE’s work to proceed. In a separate case, DOGE’s access to IRS systems was restricted in a February agreement with the Office of Personnel Management, which limits access to personal taxpayer information.
As the legal battle unfolds, the unions are pushing for swift action to prevent what they describe as a potentially harmful intrusion into the privacy of millions of Americans. The court’s response to the motion is expected in the coming weeks.
