The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to regain unrestricted access to sensitive data from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The request follows a lower court ruling that halted the data-sharing agreement, citing potential violations of federal privacy laws.
In a filing on Friday, the Justice Department argued that the district court overstepped its authority by blocking access for DOGE personnel tasked with modernizing government systems. “The court is interfering with executive duties by determining who ‘needs’ access to critical systems,” the filing stated.
DOGE, created as part of President Trump’s initiative to slash government waste and cut jobs, has been rapidly integrating across federal agencies. Its data access at SSA was challenged by two labor unions and a public advocacy group, who claimed the access was excessive and violated longstanding privacy expectations.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander, appointed by former President Obama, ruled on April 17 that DOGE failed to justify its “unprecedented, unfettered” access to SSA’s data. She emphasized that the SSA has maintained a nearly 90-year tradition of privacy in handling citizens’ records, adding that the case “exposes a wide fissure in the foundation.”
On April 30, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond declined to lift Hollander’s block in a divided ruling. The Supreme Court has now directed the plaintiffs to respond to the government’s appeal by May 12.
The high-stakes legal battle underscores growing concerns over data privacy, executive overreach, and the expanding role of tech moguls in public administration. The outcome could have lasting implications for federal data governance and citizen privacy.