A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal information stored by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The decision comes as privacy concerns escalate over the department’s expanded data collection efforts under the Trump administration.
The ruling prevents DOGE from retrieving names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and other personal records while the court reviews the legality of the department’s request. Critics argue that the sweeping data access could violate privacy rights and allow the government to improperly track citizens.
DOGE officials maintained that the information was essential to verifying eligibility for federal programs and identifying fraudulent claims. However, the court sided with challengers who warned that the department lacked clear legal authority to obtain the records without more oversight.
The temporary block will remain in place pending a full hearing scheduled in the coming weeks. The case marks the latest clash between the administration’s efforts to expand federal oversight and growing legal battles over personal data protection.