Whistleblower claims ex-DOGE member says he took Social Security data to new job
Whistleblower claims ex-DOGE member says he took Social Security data to new job
The Social Security inspector general’s office is investigating allegations that the former DOGE engineer took sensitive data on a thumb drive in a major potential security breach, said people familiar with the process.
March 10, 2026
9 min
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The Social Security Administration’s headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland, in February 2025. (Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
By Meryl Kornfield, Elizabeth Dwoskin and Lisa Rein
Meryl Kornfield and Elizabeth Dwoskin can be reached securely on Signal at @merylkornfield.59 and @lizza_dwoskin.42
The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog is investigating a complaint that alleges a former U.S. DOGE Service employee claimed he had access to two highly sensitive agency databases and planned to share the information with his private employer — a claim that, if true, would constitute an unprecedented breach of security protocols at an agency that serves more than 70 million Americans.
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The agency’s inspector general is investigating the disclosure and has alerted members of Congress of its existence, according to a letter by the acting inspector general to top members of four congressional committees reviewed by The Washington Post and two people familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive deliberations. The inspector general’s office has also shared the disclosure with the Government Accountability Office, which has been conducting its own audit of DOGE’s access to data, according to one of the people. The Post has reviewed the complaint and spoken with the whistleblower, who issued the complaint anonymously for fear of retaliation.
The Social Security inspector general’s office is investigating allegations that the former DOGE engineer took sensitive data on a thumb drive in a major potential security breach, said people familiar with the process.
March 10, 2026
9 min
Make us preferred on Google
The Social Security Administration’s headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland, in February 2025. (Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
By Meryl Kornfield, Elizabeth Dwoskin and Lisa Rein
Meryl Kornfield and Elizabeth Dwoskin can be reached securely on Signal at @merylkornfield.59 and @lizza_dwoskin.42
The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog is investigating a complaint that alleges a former U.S. DOGE Service employee claimed he had access to two highly sensitive agency databases and planned to share the information with his private employer — a claim that, if true, would constitute an unprecedented breach of security protocols at an agency that serves more than 70 million Americans.
Get concise answers to your questions. Try Ask The Post AI.
The agency’s inspector general is investigating the disclosure and has alerted members of Congress of its existence, according to a letter by the acting inspector general to top members of four congressional committees reviewed by The Washington Post and two people familiar with the process, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive deliberations. The inspector general’s office has also shared the disclosure with the Government Accountability Office, which has been conducting its own audit of DOGE’s access to data, according to one of the people. The Post has reviewed the complaint and spoken with the whistleblower, who issued the complaint anonymously for fear of retaliation.
