DOGE employee stole Social Security data and put it on a thumb drive, report says

A former employee of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency reportedly stole Americans’ personal data from the U.S.

Social Security Administration and stored it on a thumb drive, according to a whistleblower complaint reported by The Washington Post. The former DOGE software engineer told co-workers at his new job that he “possessed two tightly restricted databases of U.S. citizens’ information” and was planning to use the information at his new company, according to the report, which added that the Social Security Administration’s inspector general is investigating the whistleblower complaint. The former DOGE employee, whom The Washington Post did not name, worked at the Social Security Administration last year. In October he then left to work at a government contractor, where he told colleagues that he had obtained two databases, called “Numident” and the “Master Death File,” according to The Post, which reported that the databases could include records for “more than 500 million living and dead Americans, including Social Security numbers, places and dates of birth, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and parents’ names.” The man also reportedly claimed that he previously had unrestricted “God-level” access to the SSA’s systems. A spokesperson for the Social Security Administration, which is still under control by DOGE, denied that a former employee stole data on U.S. citizens. The spokesperson said the Washington Post was “desperate for clicks and eager to publish fake news to scare seniors.” The inspector general’s office; which is independent from the Trump administration, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This is the latest case of a suspected breach of Americans’ personal data linked to DOGE and its incursion into the Social Security Administration. In January, two DOGE members were suspected of accessing and sharing Social Security numbers that were off-limits to them as part of an effort to aid an advocacy group that intended to “overturn election results in certain States,” according to a lawsuit. Another whistleblower within the agency last year said that DOGE members put Americans at risk by uploading hundreds of millions of Social Security records to a vulnerable cloud server. Also last year, a judge blocked DOGE from accessing SSA systems, accusing the Musk-led agency of being “essentially engaged in a fishing expedition” in search of fraud. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit 1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediatelyOffer ends March 13. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW Several DOGE members were installed at the Social Security Administration after Trump took office last year. According to The Washington Post, at least a dozen DOGE employees, most of them technical staff or engineers, worked at the agency, though their actual roles and activities were not communicated to the rest of the staff. Topics Department of Government Efficiency, doge, Elon Musk, Government & Policy, Government & Policy, Security, social security administration, Trump Administration Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai Senior Reporter, Cybersecurity Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai is a Senior Writer at TechCrunch, where he covers hacking, cybersecurity, surveillance, and privacy. You can contact or verify outreach from Lorenzo by emailing lorenzo@techcrunch.com, via encrypted message at +1 917 257 1382 on Signal, and @lorenzofb on Keybase/Telegram.

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