Ex-DOGE Employee Allegedly Stole Social Security Data, Stored it on Thumb Drive

A former employee of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reportedly stole sensitive personal data from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) and stored it on a thumb drive, according to a whistleblower complaint. The incident, first reported by the Washington Post, is under investigation by the SSA’s Office of Inspector General.

Details of the Alleged Data Theft

The former DOGE software engineer allegedly informed colleagues at his new job that he possessed two restricted databases – “Numident” and the “Master Death File” – containing information on over 500 million living and deceased Americans. This data potentially includes Social Security numbers, dates and places of birth, citizenship, race, ethnicity, and parental names [TechCrunch]. The former employee likewise reportedly claimed to have previously had “god-level” access to SSA systems.

Investigation and Agency Response

The Social Security Administration’s inspector general is investigating the whistleblower complaint [Firstpost]. However, a spokesperson for the SSA, which remains under DOGE’s control, denied the allegations, accusing the Washington Post of publishing “fake news” to alarm seniors [TechCrunch].

Broader Concerns About DOGE and Data Security

This incident is the latest in a series of concerns regarding data security and the handling of sensitive information during DOGE’s involvement with the Social Security Administration. A previous whistleblower claimed that DOGE created a “live copy” of the country’s Social Security information in a cloud environment, bypassing standard oversight procedures [AP News]. A congressional committee’s six-month investigation revealed that DOGE’s data handling practices posed a high risk to U.S. Citizens, potentially requiring all Americans with Social Security numbers to receive new ones [AP News].

Musk’s Focus on Social Security Fraud

The alleged data theft occurs amidst Elon Musk’s broader campaign to identify waste and fraud within government agencies, with the Social Security Administration as a primary target [Washington Post]. Musk has suggested that federal benefit programs contain significant amounts of fraud, estimating between $500 billion and $700 billion in waste [AP News]. These estimates exceed figures from the Social Security Administration’s inspector general, who reported $71.8 billion in improper payments between fiscal years 2015 and 2022 [AP News].

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was officially disbanded in November 2025.