Supreme Court Grants Access to Social Security Data to Trump Administration
On Friday, the Supreme Court allowed officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the Trump administration, to access information from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
This decision came after the Court approved an emergency petition from GOP officials, which aimed to overturn an injunction issued by a federal judge in Maryland.
In a significant ruling for the Trump team, an unsigned order stated that DOGE members must have access to essential SSA records to effectively perform their duties.
The legal challenge against DOGE was initiated by Democracy Forward, a left-leaning advocacy group. They represented two labor unions—the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the American Federation of Teachers—along with the Alliance for Retired Americans.
The advocacy group released a statement expressing concern, claiming the ruling could lead to unauthorized access to personal data of millions.
“This is a sad day for our democracy and a scary day for millions of people,” the organizations stated. “This ruling will empower President Trump and DOGE’s affiliates to misappropriate Americans’ private and personal data.”
In contrast, the White House celebrated what they called a “common sense” ruling.
“The Supreme Court’s decision allows the Trump Administration to carry out sensible efforts to eliminate waste and modernize government systems. This is a significant win for the rule of law,” said White House spokesperson Liz Huston.
Previously, U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander, appointed by former President Obama, had ruled that DOGE had no legitimate reason to access specific SSA data. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Hollander’s decision, leading the Trump administration to seek an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.
In a related ruling, the Supreme Court also granted another emergency request from the Trump administration regarding DOGE.
This decision allows the administration to temporarily avoid complying with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for thousands of internal documents.
The approval solidifies a provisional order from Chief Justice John Roberts issued on May 23, which paused lower court mandates while the Supreme Court considered the proper actions. The Court also instructed lower courts to narrow the scope of documents that need to be disclosed.
This means the government is temporarily exempt from complying with document requests and will not be required to permit the deposition of DOGE Administrator Amy Gleason as previously mandated by a lower court, as the legal proceedings continue.
#Breaking – In a significant win for DOGE, the Supreme Court ruled they can access sensitive information held by the Social Security Administration while the legal process is ongoing. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.
