Posted on 03/21/2025 8:34:19 PM PDT by Red Badger
A federal judge on Thursday barred DOGE from accessing social security systems.
US District Judge Ellen Hollander, an Obama appointee, said DOGE’s workers are on a “fishing expedition.”
“The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion. It has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack,” Judge Hollander wrote.
Far-left organizations like AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and other plaintiffs sued the Social Security Administration, Elon Musk, DOGE and other Trump advisors.
“The plaintiffs are the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (“AFSCME”); Alliance for Retired Americans (“ARA” or “Alliance”); and American Federation of Teachers (“AFT”). They have sued the Social Security Administration; Leland Dudek, in his official capacity as “purported Acting Commissioner” of the SSA; Michael Russo, in his official capacity as Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) of the Agency; Elon Musk, in his official capacity as “Senior Advisor to the President and de facto head of” the Department of Government Efficiency; the “U.S. DOGE Service”; the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization; and Amy Gleason, in her official capacity as the DOGE Acting Administrator,” the court document read.
The judge sided with the plaintiffs and said DOGE is likely violating privacy laws with access to social security numbers and other personal information.
On Friday Acting Social Security commissioner Leland Dudek told the Washington Post in an interview that he will likely file an affidavit asking Judge Hollander to clarify her ruling, calling the language “ambiguous,” “overly broad,” and “weirdly written.”
“[In] an interview Friday with The Washington Post, Dudek argued that the judge’s ruling was overly broad and that a reference to “DOGE affiliates” could apply to all employees who access personally identifiable information, or PII, because they are obligated to cooperate with DOGE,” The Washington Post reported.
“Everything in this agency is PII,” Dudek told The Post. “Unless I get clarification, I’ll just start to shut it down. I don’t have much of a choice here.”
Dudek’s comments created a media firestorm, prompting Judge Hollander to issue a letter clarifying her language.
“The Court is aware of several news reports claiming that Acting Social Security Commissioner Dudek believes that virtually all employees of SSA fall within the scope of the Order, including his “IT Staff” and his “anti-fraud team.” And, according to the news reports, Mr. Dudek apparently believes he is required to terminate their access to SSA’s IT systems, in order to comply with the Order,” Judge Hollander wrote in a letter on Friday.
The judge continued, “Such assertions about the scope of the Order are inaccurate. Employee of SSA who are not involved with the DOGE Team or in the work of the DOGE Team are not subject to the Order. A DOGE Affiliate is defined in the Order, inter alia, as a person working on or implementing the DOGE agenda. Moreover, any suggestion that the Order may require the delay or suspension of benefit payments is incorrect.”
Why do we even have a President?
Another fruitcake judge. DOGE needs to recommed the number of these fags be reduced to not more than 25. It’s obvious the scabs don’t have anything to do.
A person working on or implementing the DOGE agenda. But aren’t they all supposed to be working with DOGE? I don’t see that her “clarification” actually clarifies anything.
And these bastards pretending that they are the President instead of the guy I elected are making me livid.
Overly broad sounds misogynistic.
All POTUS Trump has to do is take the DOGE employees looking at SS files Social Security Employees for a few weeks................
United States Digtal Services was created by Obama to remedy the Obamcare website fiasco and has access to ALL FEDERAL DATA SYSTEMS.
Trump/Musk merely repurposed and renamed it to United States DOGE Services.
It is bullet proof and not subject to judicial interference.
Every audit is a fishing expedition
The judge is incoherent—drunk or high.
This is a bizarre and meaningless decision.
Being on a “fishing expedition” is great when finding ways to reduce waste in departments one is responsible for.
“The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic,”
Isn’t that what an audit is?
An anonymous White House source announced that DEI Hollander is threatening to shut down Social Security payments to seniors if DOGE continues to uncover Social Security fraud.
The judge is engaged in arguing what is known as “the parade of horrible” absent any evidence that any such thing is occurring. The constitution gives POTUS the job of overseeing the executive branch of government, not a group of black robed tyrants. Trump was elected POTUS. No one elected the judges, who are a threat to the Republic.
Maybe the simple solution is for Elon and the amount of staff he deems necessary to do the job agree to be hired on temporary or probationary basis as civil service under Dudek as head. As soon as the Doge work is completed, they can all resign.
It’s also called ‘oversight’, ‘due diligence’ and ‘responsible’...........Things the Libs hate................
Is she in the DC district?
Exactly—it is trivial to circumvent the judge’s orders.
You could also have DOGE people “consult” to employees in the agency—either under contract or even on a free-lance basis.
It is impossible for judges to micromanage executive functions in the real world.
No clue.
You have seen one kooky leftist judge you have seen them all.
“The DOGE Team is essentially engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, in search of a fraud epidemic, based on little more than suspicion.”
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Yes, it’s called an “audit”. It’s called “accountability”.
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