Federal Bureaucracy Pushes Back as Trump, Musk Target Waste
In a move sparking outrage among conservatives, a federal judge appointed by Barack Obama has blocked efforts by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access Social Security data — a critical step in the administration’s war on fraud and government waste.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander issued a preliminary injunction halting DOGE from reviewing personal Social Security records — even though the goal is to uncover fraud, abuse, and corruption. The judge ordered that any non-anonymized data be destroyed and banned DOGE staff from modifying or using any Social Security Administration (SSA) software or tools.
Trump’s Reform Team Targeted for Exposing Fraud
Led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, DOGE has been working closely with the Trump administration to cut down on bloated government programs that waste taxpayer dollars. But now, unelected judges and left-wing activist groups are standing in the way.
Judge Hollander admitted that fighting waste is important — but still sided with plaintiffs, including liberal labor unions and a progressive legal group called Democracy Forward. These groups argue DOGE poses a privacy risk — a claim many see as a smokescreen for protecting the status quo.
“The goal is admirable,” Hollander wrote. “But the method violates longstanding SSA principles.”
Critics say this ruling protects entrenched bureaucrats while punishing the very people trying to clean up government waste.
DOJ Defends DOGE Access: “Necessary to Fight Fraud”
During a tense hearing, Justice Department attorney Bradley Humphreys defended DOGE’s need for access to the SSA’s database, explaining that anonymizing all the data would be “extremely burdensome” and slow down critical investigations.
“This is not some radical overreach,” Humphreys explained. “SSA employees already access this data. DOGE is simply continuing that effort—with more focus and oversight.”
Meanwhile, DOGE critics are painting it as a dramatic change — a claim designed to scare the public while protecting failed federal programs.
Trump Administration Expected to Appeal Ruling
This isn’t the first time DOGE has been under attack. In a separate case, a federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration, allowing DOGE to access private data from other departments like Education, Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management.
Now, Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal Hollander’s ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — a court that has already ruled in favor of the President’s other reform efforts, including the rollback of divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates.
What This Means for You: Privacy vs. Accountability
This ruling could have massive consequences for millions of Americans who rely on Social Security. The question is simple: Should government insiders be shielded from scrutiny while fraud drains the system you paid into your entire life?
For many conservatives, the answer is clear: President Trump’s crackdown on fraud is long overdue, and blocking it only benefits the swamp.