The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk has been dealt a blow by a federal court in Maryland. Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander barred DOGE’s access to US citizens’ social security information. The decision came after complaints of privacy violations from labor unions and retired employees. The court clarified that DOGE can only use public data, which will not include personal information such as names or addresses. An X user termed it a “big win for privacy.”

The court ordered that all non-anonymous data stored in DOGE be deleted after Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. There is also a ban on software changes or data insertion in the Social Security Administration (SSA). “For 90 years, SSA has been protecting citizens’ information. It is important to prevent waste, but within the ambit of the law,” Justice Hollander said. DOGE employees will now have to undergo rigorous training and background checks. Analysts believe the ruling strengthens privacy and transparency, but Musk’s Trump-backed initiative could face an appeal.