Allegations of Hatch Act Violations by DOGE Employees

Two employees from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been referred to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for potential violations of the Hatch Act. This referral stems from allegations that the employees communicated with an unnamed political advocacy group seeking to analyze state voter rolls, purportedly to find evidence of voter fraud and overturn election results in certain states. The advocacy group's contact with DOGE occurred in March 2025, and one employee signed a "Voter Data Agreement" that may have involved using Social Security Administration (SSA) data to match against these voter rolls.

DOGE officials face Hatch Act referrals for work with org aiming to ‘overturn election results’DOGE Goons Violate the Hatch Act, May Have Tried to Use Social Security Data to ‘Overturn Election Results’DOJ admits DOGE may have mishandled Social Security data2 DOGE staffers at Social Security agency may have violated Hatch Act, DOJ saysDOGE Goons May Have Shared Stolen Social Security Data With Political Group: Report

According to court documents filed by Elizabeth Shapiro, a senior official in the DOJ Civil Division, the SSA discovered these communications during a review unrelated to the ongoing legal battles surrounding DOGE's data access. The referral indicates that the agreement signed by the DOGE employee was not approved through the SSA's standard data exchange procedures. Furthermore, there is no evidence that other SSA employees were aware of these communications or the agreement.

DOGE officials face Hatch Act referrals for work with org aiming to ‘overturn election results’

The court filings also reveal that DOGE employees allegedly used an unapproved third-party server, Cloudflare, to share sensitive SSA data, raising concerns about data security and compliance with federal privacy laws. The SSA has stated it remains unclear whether any data was actually shared with the advocacy group.

DOGE officials face Hatch Act referrals for work with org aiming to ‘overturn election results’2 DOGE staffers at Social Security agency may have violated Hatch Act, DOJ saysDOGE Goons Violate the Hatch Act, May Have Tried to Use Social Security Data to ‘Overturn Election Results’DOJ admits DOGE may have mishandled Social Security dataDOGE Goons May Have Shared Stolen Social Security Data With Political Group: Report

The allegations against DOGE have sparked significant concern among privacy advocates, election integrity experts, and Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that the combination of minimal oversight and the involvement of private-sector figures like Musk poses substantial risks of misuse and politicization of government data. The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty, and violations can lead to severe penalties, including fines and removal from office.

DOGE Goons Violate the Hatch Act, May Have Tried to Use Social Security Data to ‘Overturn Election Results’

Congressional Democrats have called for hearings and subpoenas related to DOGE's data practices, while Republicans have defended the initiative as a necessary tool for combating government inefficiency. The ongoing scrutiny of DOGE's actions highlights the intersection of private-sector influence, government data, and political power.

DOGE Goons Violate the Hatch Act, May Have Tried to Use Social Security Data to ‘Overturn Election Results’

While the DOJ's filings indicate potential misconduct, it remains unclear whether any actual data was shared with the advocacy group. The SSA has not confirmed the specifics of what data may have been accessed or shared, and the agency's inability to determine the status of the data on Cloudflare raises further questions about the extent of the alleged violations.

2 DOGE staffers at Social Security agency may have violated Hatch Act, DOJ says

• “At this time, there is no evidence that SSA employees outside of the involved members of the DOGE Team were aware of the communications with the advocacy group.” — Elizabeth Shapiro, DOJ Official

DOGE Goons May Have Shared Stolen Social Security Data With Political Group: Report

• “Emails suggest that DOGE Team members could have been asked to assist the advocacy group by accessing SSA data to match to the voter rolls.” — Elizabeth Shapiro, DOJ Official

DOGE Goons Violate the Hatch Act, May Have Tried to Use Social Security Data to ‘Overturn Election Results’

• “Nearly a year after DOGE staff shared sensitive data with a group hoping to overturn election results, SSA acknowledges that they still don’t know what data they shared or whether it is still on an insecure server,” — Kathleen Romig, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

DOGE officials face Hatch Act referrals for work with org aiming to ‘overturn election results’

The situation surrounding DOGE continues to evolve as investigations proceed, raising critical questions about the safeguards protecting sensitive personal information from political exploitation.

DOGE Goons Violate the Hatch Act, May Have Tried to Use Social Security Data to ‘Overturn Election Results’