Supreme Court Weighs DOGE Social Security Data Access

The Trump administration has filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court injunction that prevents Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Social Security data. The administration asserts that DOGE needs this information to fight waste and fraud in federal programs. Judge Ellen Hollander's injunction, upheld by the Fourth Circuit, requires DOGE to delete previously collected data and only allows access to redacted or anonymized records after privacy training. Critics, including unions and privacy advocates, warn of privacy risks and potential misuse of confidential information. Solicitor General John Sauer argues that the injunction hampers executive branch operations. The Supreme Court has asked challengers to respond, underscoring ongoing tensions between privacy protections and government reform efforts.