Disturbing Whistleblower Information Obtained by Committee Democrats Leads Ranking Member Connolly to Demand Investigation into DOGE’s Disruption of Social Security Operations, Collection of Americans’ Sensitive Data
After obtaining multiple credible and disturbing whistleblower reports that DOGE is knowingly jeopardizing Social Security Administration (SSA) operations, putting Americans’ Social Security benefits at risk of delay, and compiling a “master database” of Americans’ most sensitive data that risks exposure and exfiltration, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Michelle L. Anderson, the Assistant Inspector General for Audit Performing the Duties of the Inspector General at the Social Security Administration (SSA), demanding an immediate investigation to stop further damage to the agency and prevent a disruption in benefits payments and/or massive and unprecedented data breach stemming directly from DOGE’s actions.
“The whistleblower information obtained by the Committee, combined with public reporting, paints a picture of chaos at SSA as DOGE is rapidly, haphazardly, and unlawfully working to implement changes that could disrupt Social Security payments and expose Americans’ sensitive data. I am providing this information to your office for immediate investigation. It is my hope that shedding sunlight on the opaque operations of DOGE at SSA will stop further damage to the agency and prevent a potentially calamitous disruption to the benefit payments that serve as a lifeline for more than 70 million Americans,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.
Based on credible whistleblower information reported to the Committee, Ranking Member Connolly specifically asks the Assistant Inspector General to determine whether SSA has sufficient staffing to support the technology that SSA and Social Security beneficiaries rely on; whether SSA has adequately prepared for the rapid transformation of its IT systems; and whether SSA is taking the necessary steps to protect sensitive information under the Privacy Act and related laws in compiling a master database of Americans’ sensitive data.
In his letter, Ranking Member Connolly highlights three primary concerns about how the Trump Administration and DOGE are putting SSA benefits and Americans’ sensitive data at risk:
IT and Staff Disruption: According to whistleblower communications with Committee staff, repeated IT failures are happening at SSA. For example, critical automated processes that run behind the scenes to handle large amounts of data, such as income, demographic, and financial information have failed, potentially delaying Americans’ access to their hard-earned benefits.
SSA 2.0: The Committee also learned of DOGE’s plans to undertake a massive overhaul of SSA IT systems (referred to as SSA 2.0) with almost no advanced planning or transparency, threatening the agency’s day-to-day operations. Even moderate disruptions in Social Security payments and services would have catastrophic results for the approximately 70 million monthly beneficiaries who rely on Social Security to pay for daily necessities like food and housing.
Master Database: The whistleblowers also revealed to the Committee DOGE’s reported effort to build a massive database of SSA data and data from across the federal government, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other agencies. Improving how federal agencies share data to improve outcomes and customer service is a longstanding and bipartisan goal in Congress. However, information obtained by the Committee indicates that DOGE is carrying out its work in a manner that disregards important cybersecurity and privacy considerations, potentially in violation of the law.
“I have long championed efforts to improve data sharing across the government to combat improper payments and to increase government efficiency. But any efforts to reform our current systems must be undertaken with the utmost sensitivity and concern for privacy, security, and the Social Security payments that millions of people rely on. I urge you to assess whether SSA has sufficient staffing to support the technology that SSA and Social Security beneficiaries rely on,” concluded the Ranking Member.
Click here to read the letter to Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit Performing the Duties of the Inspector General.
