Struggle Over Americans’ Personal Data Plays Out Across the Government

Last week, Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), tried to ease concerns among Democrats in Congress regarding the involvement of two of Elon Musk’s associates at her agency.https://svtoday.org/

The SSA manages a vast amount of sensitive personal data, including medical records, bank account information, and other private details for approximately 70 million Americans, all while distributing more than $1 trillion in benefits annually. In a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, dated February 11, King assured him that these two representatives from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had not yet accessed any personal data and emphasized that any future data disclosures would adhere to standard protocols.

“I share your commitment to safeguarding sensitive personal and financial information from improper exposure and misuse,” King wrote in the letter, which was reviewed by The New York Times. “We comply with all relevant laws and regulations when granting access to SSA systems.”

However, days later, Musk’s team attempted to gain access to SSA data. King resisted their request, and by Monday evening, both she and her chief of staff, Tiffany Flick, had been removed from their positions, according to three sources familiar with the situation. The Trump administration appointed Leland Dudek, a relatively low-ranking staff member with previous ties to DOGE, to temporarily head the agency.

This incident at the SSA, which has not responded to media inquiries, is part of a broader pattern across federal agencies. Musk’s team, in its efforts to root out government fraud, has repeatedly asked for unrestricted access to the extensive personal data collected by the U.S. government. These requests have raised alarms among career civil servants who are tasked with protecting sensitive information, as improper disclosure could potentially violate federal laws.

At the IRS, Musk’s team has been pushing for access to the personal data of taxpayers, including those involved in the filing of around 270 million tax returns each year. Stephen Miller, Deputy White House Chief of Staff, argued that allowing DOGE access was necessary to prevent fraudulent payments. “We’re performing a basic anti-fraud review to ensure large-scale theft of taxpayer funds isn’t occurring,” he said during a Fox News interview.

IRS officials have raised concerns about how much access DOGE members, like software engineer Gavin Kliger, would need to carry out such reviews. There are worries that unfettered access could expose highly sensitive details about Americans’ work, investments, and families. The IRS is working on a memorandum of understanding to define the scope of Kliger’s responsibilities within the agency. An IRS spokesperson did not comment on the matter.

Nina E. Olson, the executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, criticized the request, stating, “If you’re interested in assessing the efficiency of the IRS’s systems, you don’t need access to personal taxpayer data. Anonymized data would suffice.”

Several labor unions and state governments have filed lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s ability to allow political appointees to view and potentially alter sensitive government data. In some instances, federal judges have temporarily blocked access to certain data, such as the Treasury Department’s payment systems, while in other cases, judges have allowed it.

The debate between Musk’s team and career civil servants centers on the security of personal data that is often targeted by cybercriminals. Experts worry that hasty changes to outdated systems could inadvertently compromise security, potentially making it easier for scammers to exploit Americans. “If the system is made less secure, it could be a hacker’s dream,” warned Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works. “It would be a treasure trove of information.”

The federal government collects a vast array of records, including corporate information that could be relevant to Musk’s business interests. In a separate instance earlier this month, Russell T. Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, instructed staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to turn over all unclassified data to DOGE workers, according to two sources familiar with the request.

Though it’s unclear what information DOGE officials at the CFPB have accessed, the agency holds extensive data from e-payment companies like Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay—services that compete directly with Musk’s X Money Account, a payment platform being developed by Musk’s social media company, X.

The CFPB, which is tasked with overseeing consumer protection, has conducted multiple investigations into e-payment systems. The data collected includes private business communications, strategic plans, and market analysis, according to one source.

In response, the agency canceled several contracts with tech companies that maintain audit logs tracking who accesses sensitive data, according to internal sources.

While many civil servants are uneasy about DOGE’s push to access private government data, some have been more supportive. Leland Dudek, who is now leading the SSA temporarily, had previously shown public backing for Musk’s initiative on LinkedIn. In a post that has since been deleted, Dudek admitted to bypassing the chain of command to connect DOGE with agency staff, stating, “Everything I have ever done is in service to our country, our beneficiaries, and our agency.”

Former President Trump has nominated Frank Bisignano, a payment processing executive, to permanently lead the Social Security Administration, though his confirmation is still pending in the Senate.