Labor Unions File Emergency Motion to Block Elon Musk’s Department from Accessing Sensitive Social Security Data, Citing Privacy Concerns

A coalition of labor unions has filed an emergency motion in federal court to prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from accessing sensitive Social Security data. The motion was submitted late Friday by Democracy Forward, a legal services group, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The unions are seeking to block DOGE’s access to extensive personal data managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), citing privacy concerns.

The legal action includes an affidavit from Tiffany Flick, a former senior official at the SSA, who claims that career civil servants are actively working to safeguard the data from DOGE. The unions argue that the department’s access to such information could compromise the privacy systems currently in place. They emphasize the importance of maintaining the security of this data to protect millions of Americans.

The IRS, which employs specialists like Nershi, who has a background in chemical and nuclear engineering, relies on technical expertise to audit complex tax returns filed by large corporations and wealthy individuals. These specialists play a crucial role in recovering significant amounts of revenue, sometimes amounting to millions or even billions of dollars from a single tax return. The IRS has historically faced a shortage of such experts, resulting in many intricate tax filings going unexamined.

The unions’ legal challenge underscores the broader concerns about data privacy and the potential risks associated with granting DOGE access to sensitive information. As the case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between governmental efficiency and the protection of individual privacy rights.