Unions Challenge Administration Over Misuse of Social Security Data

Lawsuit Intensifies Over Data Mishandling Allegations Linked to Trump Administration

Baltimore, Md. – New legal maneuvers are unfolding as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) faces scrutiny for admitting to inaccuracies in a case involving the alleged misuse of Social Security data by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees. A coalition of unions and retiree groups has returned to court, seeking to expand the record with revelations of misconduct by the Trump-Vance administration. Additionally, Democracy Forward, representing the plaintiffs, demands assurance from the DOJ that all pertinent documents remain intact.

On January 16, 2026, a “Notice of Corrections to the Record” was filed in AFSCME v. SSA, revealing several inaccuracies in earlier submissions to the federal court. The union coalition, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), asserts that these errors impact significant issues on appeal. The claims highlight improper sharing of personal data via non-governmental servers and a DOGE employee's unauthorized agreement to analyze state voter rolls.

The controversy emerges as the Trump-Vance administration faces allegations of exploiting personal data to influence voter rolls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. AFSCME President Lee Saunders stated, “Exactly as we warned, the billionaires running DOGE have put our private data at risk.” AFT President Randi Weingarten added, “The Trump administration’s admission that DOGE improperly shared sensitive Social Security data confirms our worst fears.”

Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, expressed concern over the breach of public trust, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding data exposure. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, remarked, “The brazen misconduct by President Trump's administration is doubly harmful here, when the privacy of individual Americans and the integrity of our election system is at risk.”

This legal battle dates back to February 2025 when plaintiffs first filed a lawsuit demanding immediate intervention after discovering unauthorized access to Social Security data. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland documented allegations of DOGE operatives accessing systems without legal permission and bypassing data protections, jeopardizing sensitive personal information.

The court initially ordered a deletion of the unlawfully accessed data, but this action was later stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Ongoing proceedings in lower courts continue to address these serious allegations.

Today's filing is available here, and the letter to the DOJ is accessible here. Access the original complaint here.