DOJ Says DOGE Staff Mishandled Social Security Data on Third‑Party Server Amid Election‑Related Contacts
A DOJ Jan. 16 court filing says employees from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Director for Election (DOGE) detailed to the Social Security Administration last March shared sensitive Social Security data on a nonsecure third‑party server in violation of SSA security policies, and that an SSA review later found earlier sworn statements claiming DOGE’s access had been revoked were false (though DOJ says the officials did not know they were false at the time). SSA also does not know exactly what data was placed on the server or whether it remains there, and DOJ described the filing as corrections to the record in ongoing federal litigation in Maryland, underscoring whistleblower concerns that DOGE’s data access was chaotic and poorly controlled.
📌 Key Facts
- The Justice Department said in a Jan. 16 filing that DOGE employees detailed to the Social Security Administration (SSA) last March shared sensitive Social Security data via a nonsecure third‑party server, violating SSA security policies.
- The DOJ filing was submitted as 'corrections to the record' in ongoing federal litigation in Maryland, directly updating the court about the data mishandling and prior misstatements.
- In December, the SSA told the DOJ that an internal review found earlier sworn statements by senior SSA officials—asserting that DOGE's access to sensitive data had been revoked—were false.
- The DOJ said those senior SSA officials did not know their earlier sworn statements were false at the time they were made.
- The SSA does not currently know exactly what Social Security data was placed on the third‑party server or whether that data remains there.
- The disclosures corroborate whistleblower concerns that DOGE's access to SSA data was chaotic and poorly controlled.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Justice Department’s Jan. 16 filing discloses that DOGE employees detailed to SSA last March shared sensitive Social Security data via a nonsecure third‑party server in violation of SSA security policies.
- SSA told DOJ in December that an internal review found earlier sworn statements by senior SSA officials—claiming DOGE access to sensitive data had been revoked—were false, though DOJ says the officials did not know they were false at the time.
- SSA currently does not know exactly what data was placed on the third‑party server or whether it is still present there, confirming whistleblower concerns that DOGE’s data access was chaotic and poorly controlled.
- The DOJ filing is described as 'corrections to the record' in ongoing litigation in federal court in Maryland, directly updating the court on the mishandling and prior misstatements.