In a recent congressional whistleblower report, a top Democrat has raised alarm over the alleged construction of a “master database” by Elon Musk’s task force, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The database is said to contain sensitive data from various federal agencies, a move that has sparked concerns over potential violations of privacy laws and data security regulations.
The Department of Government Efficiency has come under scrutiny in recent months following whistleblower reports and federal lawsuits that have shed light on the task force’s access to federal systems. Whistleblowers have accused DOGE operatives of breaching federal cybersecurity protocols and data protection laws, particularly at agencies like the National Labor Relations Board. One whistleblower even went so far as to accuse the task force of engaging in a cover-up related to data harvesting activities.
The whistleblower report provided to the Democratic staff of the House Oversight Committee revealed “disturbing” information about DOGE’s activities, specifically highlighting risks posed to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Representative Gerry Connolly, D-Va., expressed concerns in a letter to the SSA’s inspector general’s office, stating that DOGE’s actions put SSA operations and services at risk. The letter also mentioned DOGE’s efforts to build a massive database using data from SSA and other federal agencies.
Rep. Connolly emphasized the alleged negligence and cavalier attitude displayed by DOGE in protecting sensitive data, pointing out instances where sensitive data was reportedly shared with artificial intelligence companies without proper vetting. He also highlighted the task force’s disregard for federal data access controls and its potential exposure of critical systems to foreign attackers.
The letter to the SSA watchdog raised additional concerns about repeated IT failures at SSA, including breakdowns in critical batch jobs and issues with collecting data from interconnected systems. These issues have reportedly arisen amid staffing cuts and restructuring within the SSA, with plans for a “massive overhaul” of IT systems dubbed “SSA 2.0.”
The letter from Rep. Connolly referenced a federal judge’s preliminary injunction against DOGE, which required staffers to undergo training and background checks before accessing agency data. This injunction came after concerns were raised about DOGE’s access to sensitive records at SSA without proper justifications.
Rep. Connolly also expressed concerns about DOGE’s attempts to develop specialized computers capable of accessing federal networks and databases across agencies, highlighting the potential security risks involved. He called for an investigation into how DOGE personnel were granted access to agency systems and whether any alterations or restructuring of datasets occurred.
Overall, Rep. Connolly’s letter underscores the need for transparency and oversight in DOGE’s activities, particularly with regards to data security and privacy laws. The potential impact on Social Security and other federal agencies is a cause for concern, and further investigation into DOGE’s operations is warranted to prevent any irreparable damage.