Washington, D.C. — April 22, 2025
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by Elon Musk, has reportedly gained access to sensitive databases across multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Labor (DOL). This access is part of an effort to build a centralized system aimed at monitoring and tracking immigrants .
According to reports, DOGE operatives have integrated data from various sources, such as biometric information, geolocation data, and immigration status records. The aggregation of this data raises concerns among privacy experts and civil rights advocates about potential misuse and the erosion of individual liberties .
In one instance, DOGE reportedly requested access to the Medicare database managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to obtain addresses of individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants. This move has been met with apprehension regarding its legality and the precedent it sets for the use of health data in immigration enforcement .
Furthermore, DOGE’s activities have extended to the Department of Labor, where operatives accessed programs containing personal information of immigrants, farm workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The potential for cross-referencing this data with other federal records has sparked fears of unjust targeting .
House Democrats have expressed serious concerns about DOGE’s creation of a “master database” that consolidates sensitive personal information from various agencies. They argue that such actions bypass established cybersecurity protocols and privacy laws, potentially leading to mass surveillance capabilities .
The initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement policies. However, the lack of transparency and oversight surrounding DOGE’s operations has prompted calls for investigations into potential breaches of privacy and misuse of data .
As DOGE continues to expand its reach within federal agencies, the implications for data privacy, civil liberties, and the ethical use of technology in governance remain at the forefront of public discourse.
