Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) may have compromised sensitive US Social Security Administration (SSA) data, putting hundreds of millions of Americans at risk, according to a whistleblower complaint. The complaint, filed by SSA Chief Data Officer Charles Borges, alleges that Doge staff created a live copy of the entire country’s social security data and uploaded it to a vulnerable cloud server.
The database in question contains highly personal information about US citizens and residents, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers. The complaint states that this information is “a goldmine for bad actors” and was stored without independent oversight, only accessible to Doge officials.
SSA officials have denied the data was compromised, stating that it is stored in secure environments with robust safeguards. However, a non-profit organization providing Borges’ legal counsel argues that this storage method poses significant risks of identity theft, interrupted benefits, and tax or medical fraud.
Borges, a career civil servant and navy veteran, previously raised concerns about Doge officials improperly accessing data but was met with inaction. The whistleblower complaint calls for immediate oversight and an independent audit to investigate these violations and prevent future problems. This is not the first time allegations have been made against Doge’s handling of sensitive government data, with previous whistleblowers reporting similar abuses of security protocols and transparency.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/26/doge-social-security-elon-musk