Peters Report Finds that DOGE Continues to Operate Unchecked, Likely Violating Federal Privacy and Security Laws, and Putting the Safety of Americans’ Personal Information in Danger - Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
www.hsgac.senate.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released a report revealing that the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is operating outside federal law, with unchecked access to Americans’ personal data. Staff investigations and whistleblower accounts show how DOGE personnel at the Social Security […]

Report includes multiple whistleblower disclosures that DOGE staff have copied Americans’ sensitive Social Security and employment data into a cloud database without any verified security controls, likely a serious violation of cybersecurity and privacy laws that puts the information at risk of being stolen by cybercriminals. One individual—previously fired from a private sector job for mishandling data—was found to have unrestricted access to SSA’s systems. Despite an SSA risk assessment warning of an up to 65% chance of catastrophic breach, the data remains in systems without any verified security controls. The consequences of a potential breach or improper release of this information, for example a potential hack are so severe that, according to a whistleblower, the fallout could require re-issuing Social Security numbers for every American—a process that would disrupt access to banking, employment, health care, and housing. The report outlines how the loss of Social Security numbers would trigger widespread identity theft, delay access to benefits, and destabilize core systems Americans rely on. Peters is calling for these agencies to immediately halt DOGE operations and access to information systems given the catastrophic risk of a serious data breach.

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