Federal watchdog officials and members of Congress are investigating allegations that sensitive personal data held by the Social Security Administration may have been improperly accessed or retained by a former employee connected to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The inquiry began after the Social Security watchdog informed congressional leaders that it is reviewing an anonymous complaint involving potential misuse of agency data. The complaint raises concerns that confidential information belonging to millions of Americans could have been improperly handled.

Inspector General Opens Review

The investigation is being conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, which monitors fraud, waste and abuse within the agency.

In a letter sent on March 6 to leaders of multiple congressional committees, the watchdog confirmed it had received a complaint regarding the “potential misuse of SSA data by a former DOGE employee,” according to documents reviewed by lawmakers.

Officials said the inspector general’s office would not disclose additional details at this stage, noting that revealing information prematurely could interfere with the investigation or discourage future whistleblowers from submitting complaints.

Congressional Democrats Expand Probe

Separately, members of Congress have launched their own review of DOGE’s access to Social Security databases. The effort is being led by Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Lawmakers say their investigation expanded after receiving whistleblower information suggesting that a former software engineer who worked with DOGE at the Social Security Administration claimed to have retained copies of highly sensitive databases.

According to the whistleblower allegations, those databases may contain personal information about nearly every living American. Reports indicate the data may have been stored on a personal thumb drive, raising concerns about how securely the information was handled.

Claims of Extensive System Access

The whistleblower complaint also alleges that the former staffer claimed to have maintained extensive system access inside the Social Security Administration.

Such access could potentially allow a user to view or modify agency records, though investigators have not confirmed whether any data was actually altered or shared. The allegations also suggest the former employee may have discussed the possibility of sharing information with a private-sector employer.

The claims were first reported publicly by The Washington Post, though investigators have not yet verified the full details of the complaint.

Concerns About Data Security

Members of Congress say the allegations raise broader concerns about how federal agencies manage access to sensitive government databases.

Representative Garcia described the accusations as troubling and said lawmakers want to determine whether any security failures allowed unauthorized access to the data.

The Social Security Administration’s inspector general has not confirmed whether a criminal investigation is underway, stating that the office generally does not verify active law enforcement inquiries.

As the reviews move forward, investigators are expected to examine access logs, security protocols and internal oversight measures to determine whether any personal data was improperly accessed or stored.