DOJ admits DOGE may have mishandled Social Security data in violation of Hatch Act

Published January 20, 2026 4:32pm ET



The Justice Department admitted that two members of the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk at one point last year, may have mishandled Social Security data by using it to match with state voter rolls in violation of the Hatch Act.

The alleged misconduct was revealed in a court document filed Friday by DOJ Civil Division official Elizabeth Shapiro, who said the Social Security Administration referred two unidentified DOGE employees to the Office of Special Counsel for possible Hatch Act violations last month.

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