House Democrats have raised serious concerns about DOGE, Elon Musk’s government-shrinking agency, alleging the creation of a massive, cross-agency database containing sensitive personal information. Ranking Member Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) sent a letter to the Social Security Administration’s Inspector General, requesting an investigation into DOGE’s activities. The letter alleges that DOGE is combining data from various agencies, including the IRS, SSA, and HHS, into a single, centralized database. This action, according to Rep. Connolly, disregards crucial cybersecurity and privacy considerations and potentially violates several laws.
Reports from whistleblowers and corroborating information from Wired magazine paint a concerning picture. Whistleblowers claim to have witnessed DOGE engineers accessing SSA systems with multiple laptops, each with access to different agency networks. This suggests an attempt to circumvent established network security protocols designed to prevent data breaches. Wired further details the transfer of “mass amounts” of data from the IRS, SSA, and voting records in Pennsylvania and Florida to USCIS servers. This raises serious concerns about the potential for mass surveillance, particularly targeting undocumented migrants.
The implications of such a database are far-reaching. Beyond the clear violation of numerous privacy laws and the significant cybersecurity risks, this centralized repository of personal information presents a potent tool for abuse. John Davisson, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, aptly describes it as “building a weapon” that could be used for mass surveillance by the government or exploited by malicious actors. This underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential for widespread harm.
While previous investigations have hinted at DOGE’s data harvesting practices, Rep. Connolly’s letter marks the first official accusation of a single, centralized database. Rep. Connolly emphasized his support for improved data sharing across government agencies but stressed that such efforts must prioritize privacy and security. The situation highlights a critical debate about the balance between government efficiency and the protection of individual rights in the digital age.
