In a move that has triggered widespread concern, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is facing operational shutdown threats from within, tied to a controversial data dispute involving Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
SSA Commissioner Threatens to Cut Off Access
On March 21, 2025, acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek declared that he would effectively shut down SSA systems – including payment processing – if a federal court ruling blocking DOGE’s access to Americans’ private data is upheld.
“Really, I want to turn it off and let the courts figure out how they want to run a federal agency,” Dudek said, according to Bloomberg News.
The threat follows a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander, who found that SSA likely violated privacy and administrative laws by granting DOGE, and Musk himself, unrestricted access to non-anonymized personal data of over 70 million beneficiaries.
What the Court Found
Judge Hollander’s ruling slammed the SSA and DOGE for failing to justify the need for unrestricted access to sensitive information including:
- Social Security numbers
- Medical and mental health records
- Bank and tax details
- Work history and income
- Birth and marriage certificates
She ordered that DOGE and Musk delete all non-anonymized data in their possession and blocked them from accessing SSA systems unless trained and limited to redacted datasets.
Why This Matters for Seniors and the Disabled
If Dudek carries through on his threat, Social Security payments could be delayed or halted – jeopardizing the lifeline for over 71 million Americans, including retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors.
DOGE, established under the second Trump administration, has proposed aggressive anti-fraud programs across federal agencies. Musk has argued – without evidence – that Social Security is “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time” and has exaggerated fraud in entitlement programs.
Critics Sound the Alarm
Civil rights groups, labor unions, and privacy advocates have condemned the SSA’s cooperation with DOGE:
“This isn’t about fraud prevention. It’s about dismantling public trust and concentrating control,” said AFL-CIO legal counsel Janice Cortez.
DOGE’s plan to close dozens of SSA field offices, require in-person identity verifications, and reroute service lines has already raised concerns about accessibility for seniors and disabled individuals in rural areas.
Musk and the Politics of Oversight
Musk’s influence over government programs under Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has made him a lightning rod. While some see him as an efficiency guru, others argue his overreach into SSA data crosses constitutional and ethical boundaries.
SSA insiders warn that allowing DOGE unmonitored access to such vast personal data sets a dangerous precedent for surveillance, misuse, or privatization of federal benefits.
What Happens Next?
The restraining order remains in effect, but the future of Social Security access hangs in the balance. Dudek’s suggestion to shut down Social Security Administration systems – unless DOGE regains full access – has sparked bipartisan backlash.
Meanwhile, the court has given SSA the option to retrain DOGE personnel, allowing access to anonymized or redacted data only, in line with federal privacy law.
For now, the SSA says benefits will continue as normal, but legal observers warn the standoff could escalate quickly if Dudek follows through.
