US Judge Extends Ban on Musk's DOGE Access to Social Security Data

A federal judge has extended restrictions on Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), prohibiting its staff from accessing sensitive personal data held by the Social Security Administration (SSA), including social security numbers, medical histories, and bank records. The preliminary injunction, issued by District Judge Ellen Hollander, follows lawsuits by labor unions and advocacy groups concerned about privacy violations and the potential for irreparable harm to millions of Americans. DOGE staff may only access redacted or anonymized data, provided they have completed background checks and relevant training. The judge found that DOGE failed to justify its request for broad, unprecedented access in the name of combating fraud and waste, and emphasized the SSA's longstanding commitment to the privacy of its records. The order also requires DOGE to delete any non-anonymized data previously obtained and bars them from making technical changes to SSA systems. Labor unions and advocacy organizations praised the ruling as a significant victory for privacy protections.