Trump asks Supreme Court to grant Musk's DOGE access to Social Security data
The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in its effort to grant the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) unrestricted access to the Social Security Administration's data on millions of Americans.The Justice Department requested a stay on a lower court ruling that blocked the data-sharing arrangement, which the judge deemed likely in violation of federal privacy laws, news agency Reuters reported.advertisement"The district court is forcing the Executive Branch to stop employees charged with modernizing government information systems from accessing the data in those systems because, in the court's judgment, those employees do not 'need' such access," the Justice Department lawyers wrote.
Solicitor General D John Sauer has called on the Supreme Court to overturn an injunction issued by the US District Judge Ellen Hollander, which currently blocks the DOGE from accessing sensitive Social Security Administration data—including Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial information.The Trump administration is requesting an immediate suspension of the judge's order while the Court weighs a longer-term decision, arguing that the restriction hampers DOGE's mission to detect waste and fraud—an effort officials describe as 'time sensitive', as reported by NBC News. Earlier this week, the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's request to allow DOGE access to sensitive Social Security data. In a 9-6 decision, the court upheld the district judge's ruling that blocked the data-sharing arrangement.advertisementThe DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has rapidly expanded across federal agencies as part of a broader Trump-Musk initiative to eliminate waste, cut federal jobs, and restructure government operations.The administration's appeal to the Supreme Court stems from a lawsuit filed by two labor unions and an advocacy group, who argue that granting DOGE access to the Social Security Administration's most sensitive systems—including data on Americans' identities, finances, and medical history—violates federal privacy laws.The Supreme Court has asked the challengers to file their response to the administration's request by May 12.(With inputs from Reuters)Must Watch
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