The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, seeking to allow the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access sensitive Social Security data belonging to millions of Americans. This appeal follows a federal judge's ruling in Maryland that had restricted DOGE’s access, citing federal privacy protections as a primary concern, according to The Hill and HuffPost.

The lawsuit, initiated by labor unions and retirees, claims that granting DOGE access violates privacy laws and could potentially expose personal records such as medical and banking information. U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander expressed concerns about the adequacy of justifications provided by DOGE for such access, labeling it an unprecedented request, as reported by CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the restrictions imposed by the lower court disrupt the executive branch's capacity to perform its duties effectively, claiming the injunction invites undue judicial interference in agency operations. The administration contends that DOGE needs full access to combat wasteful spending within the federal government, a point supported by Reuters and Newsweek.

The appeal emphasizes the administration's perspective that Social Security presents a significant challenge due to perceived fraud, which Musk has described as akin to a "Ponzi scheme." However, the appeal has drawn mixed responses from the judiciary, with a divided court upholding the earlier decision to deny DOGE unrestricted access, reflecting the ongoing concerns about governmental overreach and privacy infringement, according to The Hill, HuffPost, and CBS News.