Social Security has been on the chopping block or at the brink of collapse for years. Despite being one of the most popular and widely known programs in the US, securing proper funding for it is a struggle that continues every year with every congressional budget, but now it seems like it might be closer than ever to being dismantled, defunded or just scrapped all together.
This is because it has become the new target of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new organization created by President Donald Trump. Their mission states that they wish to modernize software and federal technology to maximize overall productivity and efficiency, but they seem to be doing more firing of federal employees with no plans to replace their functions than anything else. Their actions to date have included cutting funding related to inclusion, diversity, and equity, mass layoffs of federal workers, and accessing data to gain access to multiple federal agencies.
These mass layoffs have caused turmoil, as many essential workers have been placed on leave with pay pending court cases and others have not been notified of the state of their employment, leading to massive panic. Until now (and realistically it has only been a few months) Social Security has escaped the massacre, but its time has come.
The Social Security lawsuit against DOGE
DOGE’s attempts to root out fraud in the Social Security Administration started out on the wrong foot, as they attempted to access PII (Personal Identifiable Information) from users. This was stopped by a temporary restraining order issued on March 20 by Judge Ellon Lipton Hollander in order to protect the private information of almost every American in the country, as he declared that DOGE could provide no valid reason to access the data.
The gag order was fairly comprehensive, which should give Americans peace of mind, as it prevents acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudeck, Chief Information Officer Michael Russo, the employees working with them, related agencies, as well as the Social Security Administration as a whole from providing any form of access to any system whatsoever containing PII of any individual.
In the context of the lawsuit PII refers to any data that can be used to distinguish a specific individual, either on its own or when combined with other details. This encompasses a wide range of sensitive records, including medical and mental health histories, financial documents such as tax filings and bank statements, employment details like earnings and payment records, as well as Social Security numbers and healthcare provider information.
Under the court’s directive, DOGE and its associated entities are required to eliminate any PII they have handled or obtained since January 20, 2025. The legal action was initiated by a coalition representing both retired individuals and labor unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, the Alliance of Retired Americans, the American Federation of State, and the County and Municipal Employees.
As it is expected, members of the current government are displeased with the decision, and one of the most vocal opponents is Principal Deputy Press Secretary of the White House, Harrison Fields who has levied harsh criticisms against Judge Hollander and the court order. He accused the judge of trying to sabotage President Trump’s agenda, abusing the system, and even being a “radical leftist”, emphasizing that the President is planning to seek legal remedy in this matter to ensure that DOGE gets what they ask for.
The ruling sparked reactions not only from the White House but also outside DOGE and in other sectors. Interim SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek initially responded by threatening to shut down the Social Security Administration, arguing that the order was too broad and could extend to all agency employees, making operations impossible.
To address these concerns, Judge Hollander clarified that the order applied strictly to DOGE employees. The White House also stepped in, prompting Dudek to reverse his stance and confirm that the agency would remain open. However, Judge Hollander raised important questions about the handling of sensitive Social Security data, emphasizing the need to balance the protection of DOGE defendants’ privacy with the broader effort to combat fraud within the department.