The court ruled the agency likely violated privacy laws by over-sharing sensitive data|frankieleon|CC BY 2.0
The Social Security Administration head, Leland Dudek, reversed plans to shut down the agency after a federal judge clarified a ruling limiting Elon Musk’s access to agency data.
The court ruled that the agency likely violated privacy laws by giving the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) broad access to sensitive records, including Social Security numbers, employment and medical data.
Dudek initially claimed the ruling would cripple operations, but the judge clarified only personal details must be redacted.
The controversy sparked nearly 100 people to protest in New York, with retirees and union members demanding protection for Social Security benefits.
The ruling marks a major setback for Musk’s initiative to combat alleged fraud in the social security system, raising concerns over government data access and privacy protections.