A whistleblower has accused the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of compromising the Social Security data of more than 300 million Americans, according to a disclosure filed with the Office of Special Counsel. Charles Borges, the Social Security Administration's chief data officer, alleges that DOGE personnel uploaded a copy of sensitive agency data to a vulnerable cloud server without adequate security or oversight.
The data includes addresses, birth dates and other information that could be used for identity theft. Borges' complaint warns that if bad actors gain access, Americans could face widespread identity theft, loss of benefits, and the government might need to reissue Social Security numbers at great cost.
Borges, a US Navy veteran who became chief data officer in January, provided over two dozen pages of emails and memos outlining what he says are potential violations of federal privacy laws and security protocols. He specifically named Edward 'Big Balls' Coristine, a 19-year-old DOGE official, as being involved in the alleged misconduct.
In March, a federal judge blocked DOGE from accessing Social Security data, but the Supreme Court later allowed access. The whistleblower group Government Accountability Project is supporting Borges, urging Congress and the Office of Special Counsel to investigate.
The Social Security Administration responded that it takes whistleblower complaints seriously and that the data is stored in a secure environment walled off from the internet. A spokesperson said high-level officials have access with oversight from the Information Security team, and that the agency is not aware of any compromise.
The White House deferred comment to the Social Security Administration. Elon Musk, who founded DOGE, has previously called the agency a 'Ponzi scheme' and claimed it wastes billions.
