Whale Large Capital
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Business
  • Investing

Whale Large Capital

Politics

Federal judge temporarily restricts DOGE access to personalized Social Security data

by April 18, 2025
April 18, 2025
Federal judge temporarily restricts DOGE access to personalized Social Security data

A federal judge in Baltimore issued a preliminary injunction Thursday restricting the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to Social Security data. 

U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander, an Obama appointee, said DOGE-affiliated staffers must purge any of the non-anonymized Social Security data that they have received since Jan. 20. They are also barred from making any changes to the computer code or software used by the Social Security Administration, must remove any software or code they might have already installed, and are forbidden from disclosing any of that code to others.

The injunction does allow DOGE staffers to access data that’s been redacted or stripped of anything personally identifiable, if they undergo training and background checks. 

‘The objective to address fraud, waste, mismanagement, and bloat is laudable, and one that the American public presumably applauds and supports,’ Hollander wrote in the ruling issued late Thursday night. ‘Indeed, the taxpayers have every right to expect their government to make sure that their hard earned money is not squandered.’

But that’s not the issue, Hollander said — the issue is with how DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, wants to do the work.

‘For some 90 years, SSA has been guided by the foundational principle of an expectation of privacy with respect to its records. This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation,’ the judge wrote.

The case was brought by a group of labor unions and retirees who allege DOGE’s recent actions violate privacy laws and present massive information security risks. 

During a federal court hearing Tuesday in Baltimore, Hollander repeatedly asked the government’s attorneys why DOGE needs ‘seemingly unfettered access’ to the agency’s troves of sensitive personal information to uncover Social Security fraud.

‘What is it we’re doing that needs all of that information?’ Hollander said, questioning whether most of the data could be anonymized.

Attorneys for the Trump administration said changing the process would slow down their efforts.

‘While anonymization is possible, it is extremely burdensome,’ Justice Department attorney Bradley Humphreys told the court. He argued the DOGE access doesn’t deviate significantly from normal practices inside the agency, where employees and auditors are routinely allowed to search its databases.

But attorneys for the plaintiffs called it ‘a sea change’ in terms of how the agency handles sensitive information.

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of the legal services group Democracy Forward, which is behind the lawsuit, said the ruling has brought ‘significant relief for the millions of people who depend on the Social Security Administration to safeguard their most personal and sensitive information.’ 

Hollander made clear that her order didn’t apply to SSA workers who aren’t affiliated with DOGE, so they can still access any data they use in the course of ordinary work. But DOGE staffers who want access to the anonymized data must first undergo the typical training and background checks required of other Social Security Administration staffers, she said.

Hollander, 75, is the latest judge to consider a DOGE-related case. Many of her inquiries Tuesday focused on whether the Social Security case differs significantly from another Maryland case challenging DOGE’s access to data at three other agencies: the Education Department, the Treasury Department and the Office of Personnel Management. In that case, an appeals court recently blocked a preliminary injunction and cleared the way for DOGE to once again access people’s private data.

Hollander’s injunction could also be appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which sided with the Trump administration in other cases, including allowing DOGE access to the U.S. Agency for International Development and letting executive orders against diversity, equity and inclusion move forward.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Target CEO to meet with Rev. Al Sharpton as civil rights groups threaten boycotts over DEI
next post
Turkey begins mass trials following protests over Istanbul mayor’s detention

You may also like

Johnson pushes ‘aggressive’ timetable for House to pass...

May 18, 2025

Republicans 2 seats away from House majority, giving...

November 13, 2024

Bold prediction: What the Senate GOP campaign chair...

September 8, 2024

Department of Justice opens criminal investigation into NY...

May 9, 2025

SEN. JOHN THUNE: The modern Republican Party and...

November 11, 2024

Former VP Harris reportedly asking Hillary Clinton for...

January 23, 2025

Trump claims Harris runs ‘a campaign of absolute...

October 29, 2024

Conservative group lists ‘woke radical leftists’ it wants...

December 12, 2024

Rep. Jeffries warns Americans will be ‘devastated’ after...

February 28, 2025

Musk says Trump would have lost 2024 election...

June 5, 2025

    Subscribe today to receive exclusive access to all our retirement secrets and income strategies, including special financial news and updates from our experts. From time to time, our newsletters feature valuable insights and analysis on the latest financial trends. Don't miss out on these exclusive updates – join our subscription to stay informed!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.



    Latest

    • Elon Musk connects with indie Andrew Yang on billionaire former Trump ally’s third party push

      July 8, 2025
    • Bondi under siege after DOJ reveals no Epstein client list

      July 7, 2025
    • Over 158 million Americans voted in 2024 as Trump reclaimed the White House

      July 7, 2025
    • US ends terrorist designation of Syrian militant leaders

      July 7, 2025
    • Sen. Steve Daines says regime change is the best long-term plan in Iran

      July 7, 2025
    • Biden aides pushed for early debate to show off Biden’s ‘strength,’ expose Trump’s ‘weakness,’ book says

      July 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (707)
    • Investing (661)
    • Politics (4,813)
    • World News (3,189)
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact us
    • About us

    Disclaimer: WhaleLargeCapital.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 WhaleLargeCapital.com | All Rights Reserved