^{Demonstrators gather outside of the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C. on February 7, 2025 to protest federal layoffs and demand the termination of Elon Musk from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). (Photo by Bryan Dozier / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP)}

The Trump administration’s attempt to overturn a temporary restraining order preventing the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing confidential Social Security Administration (SSA) data has been rejected by the courts.

Court Upholds Privacy Protections

On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit dismissed the administration’s appeal due to lack of jurisdiction. This decision means the case will proceed at the district court level, where a motion for a preliminary injunction is expected to be filed later this week, according to Democracy Forward, a national legal advocacy group.

The restraining order, issued by federal Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander on March 20, explicitly blocks DOGE personnel and associated government employees from accessing SSA databases containing personally identifiable information. The sensitive data includes Social Security numbers, medical records, employment history, tax documents, bank account details, and residential addresses.

In addition to restricting access, the court also mandated that DOGE delete any non-anonymized personal information already in its possession.

Who is Fighting to Protect Social Security Data?

The lawsuit challenging DOGE’s access was filed by a coalition of unions and retiree advocacy groups, including:

• The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• The Alliance for Retired Americans
• The American Federation of Teachers

“We are pleased that the 4th Circuit has upheld the district court’s decision, allowing this crucial case to continue,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Retirees and all Americans deserve assurance that their personal Social Security data will be safeguarded from unauthorized access.”

Trump Administration’s Legal Missteps

Democracy Forward has accused the Trump administration of ignoring standard legal protocol in its bid to overturn the restraining order. Despite repeated attempts, the administration has been unable to halt its enforcement.

White House spokesperson Liz Huston defended the administration’s actions, stating, “The president will continue to explore all legal avenues to ensure the government operates efficiently and in alignment with the will of the American people.”

The Social Security Administration has declined to comment on the case.

Misinterpretation Leads to Shutdown Threat

Following the March 20 ruling, SSA Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek made headlines when he suggested that the temporary restraining order might force a full shutdown of the agency, as it “applies to almost all SSA employees.”

Judge Hollander swiftly corrected this claim, stating that the order “expressly applies only to SSA employees working on the DOGE agenda.”

Dudek later clarified his remarks, stating that, given the court’s guidance, “SSA employees and their work will continue under the temporary restraining order.”

What’s Next?

As the case moves forward, advocacy groups continue to fight to ensure that SSA data remains secure and protected from what they call an “unprecedented breach of privacy.” The upcoming preliminary injunction hearing will likely determine whether the temporary block on DOGE’s access to SSA systems will become a long-term restriction.

Legal experts predict a protracted battle ahead, with significant implications for how federal agencies handle and share personal data. With more than 66 million Americans relying on Social Security benefits, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for privacy protections within government agencies for years to come.

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