Social Security Chief Data Officer Resigns Over Data Security Risks

Charles Borges, the Social Security Administration's Chief Data Officer, resigned involuntarily after filing a whistleblower complaint alleging that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) mishandled sensitive Social Security data of over 300 million Americans by storing it on an insecure cloud server. Borges claimed that agency leadership created a hostile work environment marked by secrecy, fear, and minimal information sharing, which made it impossible for him to perform his duties legally and ethically. He reported that his repeated requests for clarification on projects possibly violating federal laws were ignored, and he experienced exclusion and internal strife after raising concerns. The whistleblower complaint was submitted to Congress and regulators, warning of risks including potential widespread identity theft and loss of vital benefits. The Government Accountability Project supports Borges and confirmed his resignation, emphasizing the seriousness of the data security issues raised. The Social Security Administration declined to comment on personnel matters but previously stated that the cloud server in question was isolated from the internet.