A federal court has imposed a preliminary injunction against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by Elon Musk, restricting its access to sensitive data within the Social Security Administration (SSA) systems. The decision emerges from a motion submitted by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Alliance for Retired Americans, all represented by Democracy Forward.
The court deemed Musk’s unprecedented access to private Social Security data—ranging from immigration records to financial and health information—as a breach of privacy protections that could lead to significant harm.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders stated, “This decision sends a clear message to Elon Musk and his DOGE minions to keep their hands off Social Security.” Saunders criticized DOGE’s influence on the SSA, accusing the group of planning service cuts, causing confusion, and ignoring court orders.
AFT President Randi Weingarten emphasized the ruling’s importance, noting, “It stops, for now, the exploitation of data by an unelected billionaire who wants to weaponize it or use it for his and others’ personal ends.” Weingarten highlighted the intrusion as a breach of trust and called for accountability.
Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, offered reassurance to older Americans, saying they can “breathe easier knowing that Elon Musk and his DOGE team have been clearly ordered to stay away from their most personal financial and health information.”
Democracy Forward’s President and CEO, Skye Perryman, described the injunction as a significant relief, emphasizing that the court’s message is against bypassing laws for unauthorized data access. The organization pledged to continue efforts to halt DOGE’s overreach.
The injunction mandates DOGE to follow legal protocols before accessing SSA data, while the case proceeds. Plaintiffs claim that DOGE’s actions violate several laws, including the Privacy Act and the Social Security Act.
This decision follows an unprecedented order requiring DOGE to delete personal data, amid concerns about privacy infringement among its affiliates. There is an observable disparity in privacy concerns between the data’s unauthorized access and the apprehension of DOGE affiliates about their own information being exposed.
The progress of the lawsuit and related court documents, including the complaint and motions, are available for public examination.