Data Leak: What Happened with DOGE and Social Security?

A recent court filing by the Justice Department has unveiled a significant data security issue involving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Unsecured Data Sharing

Employees from DOGE, who were collaborating with the SSA, shared sensitive information through an unsecured third-party server. This action violated agency security policies.

Uncertainty Over Data Breach

The SSA remains uncertain about the extent of the breach. They do not know what specific data was shared or if it still exists on the server. This incident has raised concerns among government employees and data security experts, who worry about DOGE's handling of sensitive government data.

Whistle-Blower Complaint

Last August, the SSA's chief data officer filed a whistle-blower complaint. The complaint highlighted DOGE employees' activities, including sharing a crucial database on a private server. This was before the officer resigned.

Conflict and Inconsistencies

The Justice Department's filing focuses on events from last March. During this time, there was a conflict between career SSA officials and DOGE over sharing sensitive information.

The Justice Department found inconsistencies in sworn statements made by senior SSA officials. These statements claimed that DOGE employees' access to sensitive data had been revoked. However, the department later discovered these statements were false. The officials were unaware of the inaccuracies at the time.

Internal Review and Corrections

An internal agency review last fall revealed these inconsistencies. The agency notified Justice Department lawyers about its findings on December 10. The department filed corrections to the court more than a month later.

Importance of Data Security

This incident underscores the importance of data security and the need for proper handling of sensitive information. It also highlights the potential risks when different government entities share data.