Trump administration battles for access to social security data
The Trump administration approached the Supreme Court on Friday with a request to allow members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive personal data from the Social Security Administration. The face of DOGE is Elon Musk.
The government seeks to overturn the decision of federal judge Ellen L. Hollander from Maryland, who found that Musk's team's oversight of Social Security's information systems might violate federal privacy laws.
The Trump administration's lawyers argue that Social Security data could aid in the broader strategy of limiting immigration, at a time when the president is focusing on deporting students and other foreign nationals.
In her ruling, Hollander stated that interference in the personal matters of millions of Americans—without proper justification—is not in the public interest.
Her decision was challenged by Attorney General D. John Sauer.
Sauer stated that this extraordinary request addresses a well-known issue: the district court issued a broad injunction without legal basis, causing continuous, irreversible harm to federal priorities and hindering the functioning of the executive branch.
According to Sauer, Judge Hollander, appointed by President Barack Obama, overstepped her authority.
"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," argued Sauer.
He contends that if district courts block the actions of specialists engaged in reforming information systems, the government will not be able to effectively eliminate waste and fraud.
Trump administration hits the judiciary
Trump and his allies have repeatedly criticized lower court judges for blocking their initiatives, including by issuing nationwide injunctions.
"The New York Times" notes that the Republican administration has filed several requests with the Supreme Court in recent weeks, including one related to immigration. Some of these await the decision of the judges, who are scheduled to hear arguments on May 15 regarding the scope of permissible court orders challenging the president's efforts to eliminate automatic citizenship for individuals born in the U.S.
