Supreme Court Grants Trump’s DOGE Full Social Security Data Access

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), allowing it access to millions of Americans' sensitive Social Security records to combat fraud and streamline government operations. This decision overturned lower court orders that had blocked DOGE's access due to privacy concerns, with the court emphasizing the importance of modernization and anti-fraud efforts. DOGE, initially formed during Trump's first term and shaped in part by Elon Musk, faced criticism over data privacy risks and the professionalism of its staff, including controversies around individuals with problematic past statements. Despite the majority ruling, Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan dissented strongly, warning of serious privacy implications and the potential misuse of personal data. The court also paused a discovery process in a related lawsuit examining DOGE's transparency and FOIA status, underscoring tensions between executive confidentiality and public accountability. The rulings reflect ongoing debates about balancing government efficiency with citizens' privacy rights amid political and operational conflicts within the Trump administration and its associates.