Social Security Data Misuse Investigation Expands to Encompass Former DOGE Employee
Washington, D.C. – Investigations are underway by both an internal government watchdog and members of Congress regarding allegations that a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee potentially misused sensitive Social Security data. The probes were launched after an anonymous complaint surfaced, raising concerns about the security of personal information for millions of Americans.
Investigation Details
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Inspector General notified leaders of several House and Senate committees on March 6, 2026, about the review of the anonymous complaint. According to a copy of the letter obtained by NPR, the complaint relates to “matters relating to the potential misuse of SSA data by a former DOGE employee, among other allegations.”
Congressional Democrats have expanded their investigation into DOGE’s access to Social Security data following whistleblower information alleging that a former DOGE software engineer at SSA retained copies of sensitive databases containing personal information for nearly every living American. The allegations were first reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday.
Whistleblower Claims
The former DOGE employee allegedly possessed at least one database on a personal thumb drive and maintained “God-level” access to SSA systems. The whistleblower also claimed the former staffer discussed sharing the data with their private-sector employer, according to The Washington Post. NPR has not independently reviewed the whistleblower complaint.
Representative Robert Garcia (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, called the allegations “deeply disturbing,” stating they demonstrate a “callous disregard for the safety and security of Americans’ most sensitive information.” Garcia noted the potential for manipulation of data within the SSA.
Databases at Risk
The whistleblower alleges copies were made of two key databases: NUMIDENT and the Death Master File. NUMIDENT contains sensitive records for almost every American, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, places of birth, and parents’ names. The Death Master File holds records of individuals reported as deceased.
SSA Response and Ongoing Concerns
An unnamed SSA spokesperson disputed the whistleblower’s claims, stating in an email to NPR that the allegations have been “strongly refuted” by all parties involved, including the former employee and the company in question. The spokesperson also criticized The Washington Post’s reporting, claiming the information is untrue.
The Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration declined to comment, citing the need to avoid jeopardizing any ongoing investigation and discouraging potential future complainants.
Broader Pattern of Data Access Issues
This investigation follows a January 2026 disclosure by the SSA that DOGE employees improperly shared sensitive personal data in 2025, with the full extent of the violations still unclear. The disclosure stemmed from an ongoing court fight regarding whether DOGE improperly accessed and abused SSA data. Two unnamed DOGE employees were referred to a federal watchdog for potential Hatch Act violations, which prohibit government employees from using their positions for political activity.
Court filings also revealed that DOGE team members bypassed IT rules to share data on outside servers, sent private records to DOGE staff outside the agency, and maintained access to some data even after a judge temporarily blocked it. Charles Borges, the former chief data officer at SSA, previously filed a whistleblower disclosure alleging that DOGE staffers improperly copied a dataset of over 300 million Americans’ information into a virtual database without proper security protocols.
Borges stated that the new allegations, if true, would have “generational consequences,” potentially leading to an “irrecoverable loss of the entirety of our personal data” and requiring a complete redesign of the U.S. Identity system.