The Department of Justice revealed that two Social Security Administration employees are under investigation for potential violations of the Hatch Act due to suspected involvement with an advocacy group seeking data to challenge election results. The employees potentially used unapproved third-party servers and unauthorized methods to access and share sensitive data.
The Department of Justice revealed in a court filing on Tuesday that two employees of the DOGE team at the Social Security Administration ( SSA ) were referred for potential violations of the Hatch Act . These referrals stem from allegations of undisclosed communication with an unnamed advocacy group that aimed to obtain data to challenge election outcomes.
The filing, offering a glimpse into a potential misuse of government resources, underscores concerns about the integrity of voter data and the proper conduct of government employees. The Justice Department emphasized that it remains uncertain whether the DOGE employees indeed shared data with the advocacy group, but the provided emails and findings of an internal review suggest a strong possibility of inappropriate access to sensitive information. The investigation and subsequent referrals highlight the importance of upholding ethical standards and adhering to established protocols within government agencies, particularly when dealing with information that could be used for political purposes. The case is a reminder of the vigilance required to protect the democratic process and maintain public trust. The Hatch Act, which generally prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities, aims to ensure that government services are administered fairly and impartially, free from political influence. \The court filing, penned by senior Justice Department official Elizabeth Shapiro, details that in March 2025, the advocacy group contacted two members of the SSA's DOGE Team. The group requested analysis of state voter rolls that they had already obtained, with the stated objective of uncovering evidence of voter fraud and subsequently overturning election results in certain states. This request, the subsequent interactions, and the apparent willingness of the DOGE employees to potentially facilitate this request triggered an internal review at the SSA. This review ultimately led to the Hatch Act referrals made to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in late December 2025. The filing appeared in a Friday filing correcting earlier SSA testimony delivered during a court battle over data access initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, established by Musk, illustrating the evolving nature of the investigation and the need for accurate and transparent reporting. The court document also indicated that one of the DOGE employees referenced in the filing had agreed to use Social Security data to match state voter rolls, an action that further intensified the scrutiny of the employees' actions and the potential breach of data security protocols. The referral and investigation are ongoing, and further details, including the identities of the employees and the advocacy group, are expected to be disclosed in due course.\Adding to the gravity of the situation, the court filing also brought to light the unauthorized use of Cloudflare, a third-party server, by DOGE team members. This server was used to share SSA data outside the agency's approved security protocols. The filing makes it clear that Cloudflare is not authorized to store SSA data, and the SSA was unaware of the DOGE team’s use of the server until its recent review. This unauthorized data sharing raises significant concerns about data security and the potential for sensitive information to be compromised. Because the data was stored on a third-party server, the SSA has been unable to determine exactly what data was shared via Cloudflare or whether any of the shared data remains on the server. The use of an unapproved third-party server and the lack of oversight of the data-sharing activity demonstrate a serious failure to adhere to the agency's security standards. The entire episode highlights a troubling disregard for established data security measures and the potential for misuse of sensitive information. The SSA has initiated further investigations to assess the extent of the damage, secure the data, and possibly prevent future security breaches. The ongoing investigation and the actions taken by the SSA serve as a vital measure of accountability, and they are critical to ensuring public trust and upholding the integrity of government processes. The potential breach has also renewed discussions about government data security and the enforcement of the Hatch Act, highlighting the crucial need for consistent training, strict protocols, and robust oversight of all government employees, as well as the need for continuous vigilance in protecting the integrity of election processes and securing sensitive data
Hatch Act SSA Election Data Data Security Government
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
This Utah lawmaker, mentored by Orrin Hatch, wants to help the next generationBridger Beal-Cvetko is a reporter for KSL. He covers politics, Salt Lake County communities and breaking news. Bridger has worked for the Deseret News and graduated from Utah Valley University.
Read more »
DOJ Investigates Potential FACE Act and KKK Act Violations Following Church ProtestThe Department of Justice is investigating potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and the “KKK Act” following a protest at a Minnesota church by anti-ICE demonstrators. The investigation is examining potential interference with religious freedom and the possibility of longer sentences under the KKK Act. The DOJ's actions are contrasted with previous cases where these laws were used against pro-life activists.
Read more »
2026 Kia K4 Hatchback Looks Nice, Comes with a Camper TentHot Hatch Segment Not Dead Yet, Just Needs More Than This
Read more »
DOJ admits DOGE may have mishandled Social Security data in violation of Hatch ActTwo DOGE employees allegedly accessed the data to match with state voter rolls in coordination with a political advocacy group.
Read more »
2 DOGE staffers at Social Security agency may have violated Hatch Act, DOJ saysThey allegedly communicated with an advocacy group seeking data, a filing said.
Read more »
DOGE Goons May Have Shared Stolen Social Security Data With Political Group: ReportTwo DOGE members have been referred to authorities for Hatch Act violations.
Read more »