Supreme Court considers Trump's request for DOGE's Social Security access

The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court order blocking Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Social Security records, arguing that such access is essential for rooting out waste and fraud in federal programs. The administration contends that district courts are overreaching by interfering in executive branch operations, with Solicitor General John Sauer asserting the injunction disrupts DOGE's mission and could set a precedent for further judicial intervention in agency matters. Critics, including labor unions and privacy advocates, argue that DOGE's broad access threatens the privacy of millions of Americans whose sensitive personal and financial information is stored within Social Security systems. While Judge Ellen Hollander's order restricts DOGE's access under federal privacy laws, it does allow for the use of redacted, non-identifiable data. The appeals court declined to lift the block on access, though conservative judges noted there was no evidence of misuse or privacy breaches by DOGE. The Supreme Court has asked challengers to respond to the administration's emergency appeal, highlighting the ongoing debate over executive authority and privacy protection.