Attempts by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to seek access to the Social Security Administration’s database have sparked concern that it could compromise people’s private financial and medical information and could lead to a disruption in benefits.

When people think of Social Security, they typically think of monthly benefits — for the roughly 69 million retirees, disabled workers, dependents and survivors who receive them today. But word that members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to the Social Security Administration’s data systems should conjure up thoughts of data on hundreds of millions of people.

The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information,

Elon Musk and his cyber bros from the Department of Government Efficiency are rooting around in various government agencies. Maybe when they went after the IRS, that got your attention. But take notice because now they’re knocking at the door of the Social Security Administration.

Many readers have been emailing me asking for my help in understanding the allegations made by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency about sloppy recordkeeping at the Social Security Administration.