Elon Musk’s controversial cost-cutting team, known as DOGE, has been accused of orchestrating a hostile takeover of the Social Security Administration (SSA), putting the personal data of millions of Americans at risk and undermining the integrity of one of the nation’s most vital safety-net programs.
According to a bombshell declaration filed in federal court by Tiffany Flick, the SSA’s former acting chief of staff, DOGE officials stormed into the agency with reckless disregard for established protocols, demanding unfettered access to sensitive taxpayer data while refusing to explain why they needed it.
Flick, a 30-year civil servant who was forced out in February after resisting DOGE’s demands, described the takeover as a “de facto coup” that has left the agency in chaos and its critical systems vulnerable to exploitation.
“I witnessed a disregard for critical processes — like providing the ‘least privileged’ access based on a ‘need to know’ — and a lack of interest in understanding our systems and programs,” Flick wrote in her 13-page declaration, submitted under oath. “The stakes are high.”
The allegations paint a chilling picture of an administration hell-bent on dismantling responsible government, with DOGE officials operating as shadow operatives within the SSA.
Flick revealed that DOGE representatives, many of whom are young software engineers with no government experience, bypassed the normal chain of command, communicated directly with Musk’s team, and recklessly exposed sensitive data in unsecured areas outside SSA offices.
This brazen behavior potentially disclosed personally identifiable information on nearly every American to unauthorized individuals, violating federal privacy laws and putting millions at risk of identity theft and fraud.
A Reckless Assault on Privacy and Security
At the heart of the controversy is DOGE’s demand for access to three massive databases containing highly sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, work histories, financial and banking details, marital status, immigration records, and even data on spouses and dependents.
Flick warned that granting DOGE full access to these systems would allow them not only to view but also to alter the data, opening the door to catastrophic errors or deliberate manipulation.
Despite repeated requests for clarification, DOGE officials refused to explain why they needed this unprecedented level of access.
Flick acknowledged that their stated goal was to investigate alleged benefits fraud, but she dismissed these concerns as “invalid and based on an inaccurate understanding of SSA’s data and programs.”
The situation escalated when DOGE-aligned appointees, including newly installed Chief Information Officer Mike Russo and software engineer Akash Bobba, pressured career officials to rush through Bobba’s onboarding process despite issues with his credentials.
Bobba was given access to the Numident database, which contains information used to assign and maintain Social Security numbers, but Flick expressed grave concerns about his lack of understanding of the data’s sensitivity.
“I do not believe Mr. Bobba had a sufficient understanding of the sensitive nature of SSA data or the ways to ensure [its] confidentiality,” Flick wrote.
A Culture of Secrecy and Intimidation
The DOGE team’s actions have been marked by a culture of secrecy and intimidation.
Russo, who has a private-sector technology background, reportedly hung up on a reporter seeking comment, while Bobba has remained silent.
Flick revealed that Russo was evasive when questioned about DOGE’s intentions, repeatedly stating that Bobba needed access to “everything, including source code” — a level of access that even the SSA’s most skilled experts are not granted.
When career officials pushed back, Russo appealed to the White House budget office, where a political appointee overruled their objections and granted DOGE unrestricted access.
The tension came to a head in mid-February, when acting commissioner Michelle King and Flick were forced out after resisting DOGE’s demands.
In their place, the White House elevated Leland Dudek, a mid-level data analyst who had been placed on paid leave amid an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct.
The declaration has sparked outrage across the political spectrum.
Lisa McCormick, a progressive activist who has repeatedly challenged what she calls “do-nothing Democrats” in Congress, slammed lawmakers for their silence on the issue.
“Where is the outrage from Democratic leaders? Where are the hearings, the investigations, the demands for accountability?” said McCormick. “This is not just an attack on the Social Security Administration; it’s an attack on every American who relies on these benefits. The silence from Congress is deafening, and it’s complicity.”
McCormick also took aim at Republicans, accusing them of abandoning their responsibility to safeguard the Constitution.
“The GOP has spent decades claiming to be the party of fiscal responsibility and good governance, but this administration has turned that into a sick joke,” said McCormick. “By allowing Elon Musk’s DOGE team to run roughshod over one of our most critical agencies, Republicans have shown they care more about pleasing their billionaire donors than protecting the American people.”
A Threat to Millions of Americans
The fallout from DOGE’s takeover could be catastrophic.
Flick warned that the SSA’s long-standing information security policies are being ignored, raising the risk of benefits not being paid out or delays in payments.
She also expressed concern that DOGE’s approach to data management could create opportunities for fraud, as political appointees with no training or vetting by the SSA now have access to data that was previously protected from almost everyone.
“In such a chaotic environment, the risk of data leaking into the wrong hands is significant,” Flick wrote.
The declaration has also galvanized a coalition of unions and retirees, who have filed a motion for emergency relief in federal court, seeking to halt DOGE’s “unprecedented, unlawful seizure of personal, confidential, private, and sensitive data.”
A Dark Day for Responsible Government
The Trump administration’s decision to hand over control of the SSA to Elon Musk’s DOGE team represents a dangerous erosion of responsible government.
By sidelining career civil servants, ignoring established protocols, and recklessly endangering the privacy and security of millions of Americans, DOGE has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the rule of law and the public trust.
As Flick’s declaration makes clear, the stakes could not be higher. If DOGE’s hostile takeover is allowed to continue, the consequences for millions of retirees, disabled Americans, and taxpayers could be devastating.
The question now is whether the courts — or the American people — will act to stop this assault on our democracy before it’s too late.