The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) have filed a motion in federal court seeking a preliminary injunction to halt what they describe as the unlawful access to Social Security data by Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). The motion follows a recent lawsuit initiated by the nonprofit Democracy Forward, which represents these organizations.
The legal action is in response to DOGE’s alleged unauthorized access to sensitive information managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). AFSCME President Lee Saunders expressed concern for the safety of the information, stating, “Working people and retirees deserve assurance that their sensitive information remains safe and not in the hands of Musk’s unvetted lackeys.”
Randi Weingarten, President of the AFT, highlighted the potential risks to working families, saying, “With every passing day, Americans’ personal and financial data is further jeopardized by Elon Musk’s actions.” Similarly, Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, emphasized the concerns of older citizens regarding their data security.
The preliminary injunction seeks to restrict DOGE personnel from accessing SSA’s systems until the legal matter is resolved. Anne Swift, Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward, noted, “DOGE’s unlawful access to Social Security’s data systems put the American people at risk–not only of privacy violations but also of losing access to the benefits they depend on.”
The case awaits further developments as the parties await a court decision on the motion for a preliminary injunction.
