The government is investigating new claims that a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer potentially misused sensitive Social Security data. According to NPR, the Social Security Administration's inspector general notified leaders of several House and Senate committees on March 6 that it is reviewing an anonymous complaint about potential misuse by a former DOGE employee.
Key Takeaways
Government agencies and Congress are investigating allegations that a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee misused sensitive Social Security data. Whistleblower claims suggest the individual retained copies of databases containing personal information on nearly every living American.
- The SSA's inspector general is reviewing an anonymous complaint about potential misuse of Social Security data by a former DOGE staffer.
- A whistleblower alleged that a former DOGE software engineer retained copies of sensitive databases, including NUMIDENT and the Death Master File.
- Congressional Democrats have expanded their probe into DOGE's access to Social Security data following these allegations.
- The SSA has refuted the whistleblower's claims, stating they could not be verified by the Washington Post.
The whistleblower allegations, first reported by the Washington Post, claim that a former DOGE software engineer retained copies of sensitive databases filled with personal information about nearly every living American. The databases included NUMIDENT and the Death Master File, which contain highly sensitive records such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, place of birth, parents' names, and records for individuals reported as deceased.
The whistleblower further alleged that the former staffer claimed to have retained at least one database on a personal thumb drive and had 'God-level' access to SSA systems. The former employee allegedly told colleagues they wanted to share the data with their private-sector employer, according to Washington Post. However, NPR noted it has not reviewed the whistleblower complaint.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) disputed these claims in an email to NPR. An unnamed spokesperson for SSA stated that 'the allegations by a singular anonymous source have been strongly refuted by all named parties - SSA, the former employee, and the company.' The spokesperson also noted that the Washington Post admitted they could not verify the information because it is not true.
The Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration declined to comment, citing its policy not to confirm or deny law enforcement investigations. Meanwhile, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the House Oversight committee's top Democrat, called the allegations 'deeply disturbing' and said they show a 'callous disregard for the safety and security of Americans' most sensitive information.'
The investigation comes after the SSA disclosed in January that DOGE employees had secretly and improperly shared sensitive personal data. The agency also revealed that it could not verify the extent of these violations. Additionally, two unnamed DOGE employees were referred to a federal watchdog for potentially violating the Hatch Act.
Charles Borges, the former chief data officer at SSA, filed his own whistleblower disclosure last year alleging DOGE staffers improperly copied a dataset of more than 300 million Americans' information into a virtual database without following security protocols. Borges told NPR that if true, these allegations would have 'generational consequences.'
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