Two members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the Social Security Administration (SSA) may have improperly accessed and shared Americans' Social Security numbers in an effort to assist an advocacy group seeking to overturn election results in certain states last year, according to court documents. The revelation, initially reported by Politico, emerged as part of corrections to prior testimony by senior SSA officials concerning DOGE's access to Social Security data in ongoing legal disputes. The court documents do not identify the specific DOGE members or the advocacy group involved.

In March 2025, a political advocacy group contacted two members of the DOGE team within the SSA, requesting an analysis of state voter rolls the group had obtained, Justice Department official Elizabeth Shapiro wrote in the court documents. Shapiro stated that the advocacy group's objective was to uncover evidence of voter fraud and to challenge election outcomes in specific states. Following these communications, one of the DOGE members, acting as an SSA employee, signed and transmitted a Voter Data Agreement with the advocacy group, Shapiro wrote. The DOGE members potentially accessed private information during this process.

The incident raises concerns about the intersection of technology, political activism, and data privacy in an era where digital information is increasingly vulnerable. The DOGE, established under the premise of streamlining government operations through technological innovation, now faces scrutiny regarding its adherence to ethical and legal boundaries. The use of Social Security data, a highly sensitive form of personal information, for partisan political purposes strikes at the heart of public trust in government institutions.

The Social Security Administration, an agency tasked with safeguarding the financial security of millions of Americans, finds itself grappling with questions about internal oversight and data protection protocols. The incident underscores the potential for misuse of government resources and the need for robust safeguards to prevent the weaponization of data for political gain.

The current status of the investigation remains unclear, but the Justice Department's involvement suggests a serious inquiry into potential violations of privacy laws and government ethics regulations. The legal battles surrounding DOGE's access to Social Security data are ongoing, and these new revelations are likely to further complicate the proceedings. The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between technological advancement, political engagement, and the fundamental right to privacy in a democratic society.