The head of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), Leland Dudek, has reversed plans to "shut down" the agency following a sharp rebuke from a federal judge. Dudek, appointed by former President Donald Trump, initially claimed that a court ruling restricting Elon Musk’s access to SSA data would halt internal operations. However, Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander clarified that her ruling only barred Musk’s team, known as DOGE, from accessing unredacted personal data—not SSA employees.
DOGE, led by Musk and supported by Trump, aims to cut government waste and combat Social Security fraud. The group was granted extensive access to sensitive information, raising privacy concerns. Judge Hollander ruled that the SSA likely violated federal privacy laws by allowing DOGE “unbridled access” to the personal records of millions of Americans, including Social Security numbers, medical and financial details, and employment histories.
Dudek’s claim that the court’s order would shut down SSA operations was deemed inaccurate by the judge, who stressed that redacted documents could still be shared with DOGE and unredacted ones remained accessible to agency staff. She added that benefit payments would not be disrupted.
The controversy has sparked public backlash. Over 100 retirees and union members protested the planned closure of a Social Security office in White Plains, New York. Signs like “Get Your Monstrous Hands Off Social Security” reflected growing concerns over data privacy and political interference.
This legal setback marks a critical moment for DOGE and highlights the tension between government transparency and personal data protection. The case continues to draw national attention as the debate over privacy, fraud prevention, and the role of private actors in public agencies intensifies.