The Department of Justice has confirmed that employees of the Department of Government Efficiency accessed the private Social Security records of millions of Americans without proper authorization.
Court documents filed in January 2026 reveal that DOGE staff bypassed security systems to view sensitive personal information. This includes bank account numbers, health records, and wage histories belonging to Social Security beneficiaries.
The breach has raised serious concerns about identity theft and misuse of government data.
DOGE is not a federal agency. It is an advisory group co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The group was formed in early 2025 to find waste and fraud in government programs. It is scheduled to shut down on July 4, 2026.
According to the DOJ filing, DOGE personnel shared data on a third-party server operated by Cloudflare. That server is not approved for storing government records. Legal experts say this violates federal data security laws.
The filing also alleges that DOGE members tried to match Social Security data with state voter rolls. The effort was reportedly linked to an advocacy group challenging election results. Legal observers are calling this potential election interference.
Social Security Administration (SSA) employees have been hit hard by the restructuring. A strict return-to-office policy has caused high staff turnover, according to agency insiders. Telework dropped from over 50% in 2024 to just 13% by mid-2025.
The result: longer wait times and reduced customer service. Regional offices have closed. Phone lines are overwhelmed. Many beneficiaries report trouble getting help with claims or appeals.
DOGE leaders claim they are rooting out fraud. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have publicly stated that millions of people over age 100 are collecting benefits improperly. Budget experts and the Social Security Administration dispute those claims.
“There is no evidence of systemic fraud at this scale,” said a senior analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in a January interview with The Washington Post.
Despite the focus on waste, DOJ documents show DOGE has not yet identified widespread fraud in retirement or disability programs.
Here are the maximum Social Security benefits for 2026, according to the SSA:
- Full retirement age: $4,152 per month
- Age 62 (early retirement): $2,969 per month
- Age 70 (delayed retirement): $5,181 per month
These amounts apply only to workers who earned the maximum taxable income throughout their careers.
There are also growing concerns about new rules that could terminate benefits for certain recipients. Policy proposals under review include stricter eligibility reviews and possible privatization of Social Security trust fund assets.
The SSA has not issued detailed guidance on these potential changes. Advocacy groups are urging Congress to intervene.
DOGE’s original mission was to cut $2 trillion in federal spending by July 2026. Critics now say the group has caused more disruption than savings.
The American Civil Liberties Union and several privacy advocacy organizations are calling for a full investigation. Senator Ron Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement:
“Exposing Americans’ private data to unaccountable contractors is unacceptable. Congress must act immediately.”
Beneficiaries concerned about data exposure should monitor bank accounts and credit reports closely. The SSA has not announced a formal breach notification process.
For updates, visit SSA.gov or contact your local Social Security office.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Justice court filings (January 2026)
Social Security Administration benefit tables (2026)
The Washington Post, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Senator Ron Wyden public statement
