Democracy Forward represents a coalition of unions and retiree advocates—including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA)—in a legal challenge to DOGE’s illegal incursion into SSA systems.

Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit and sought emergency relief after uncovering new facts showing that DOGE operatives had gained access to private Social Security records. According to declarations filed in court, DOGE personnel entered SSA systems without appropriate legal authority, bypassed key data safeguards, and placed the private information of millions of Americans—including bank account numbers, health records, wage histories, and immigration status—at risk of exposure, theft, or abuse.

The court has already taken historic action, ordering DOGE to delete all unlawfully accessed data and temporarily blocking further access. This marks the first time a federal court has issued such an order since the Trump administration took office.

The SSA stores some of the most sensitive information the federal government maintains. DOGE’s unauthorized access to this data not only violates multiple federal privacy laws but also places Americans—particularly retirees and people with disabilities—at serious risk of financial fraud, identity theft, and the misuse of their personal information.

The plaintiffs are seeking court intervention to permanently block DOGE’s access, safeguard Americans’ privacy, and restore integrity to how SSA data is managed and protected.

Latest Developments:

• March 20, 2025 — A federal court ordered DOGE to delete and return all unlawfully accessed SSA data, recognizing that merely preventing future access was insufficient.
• April 1, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed the government’s appeal of the temporary restraining order for lack of jurisdiction, allowing the case to proceed in district court.
• April 4, 2025 —  Plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction to stop DOGE’s ongoing access to SSA data, citing new facts showing continued legal violations and heightened risk to Americans’ private information.
• April 17, 2025 — The District Court of Maryland granted a preliminary injunction stopping DOGE’s access to SSA data while the broader lawsuit moves forward.
  

Case: AFSCME et al v. SSA