Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court To Step In On DOGE Case

Trump Administration Makes Emergency Supreme Court Appeal for DOGE Access to SSA Data

On Friday, the Trump administration filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the justices to grant the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) data. The administration argued that DOGE must be able to access the information to effectively combat waste and fraud in government operations.

In the appeal, officials stated:
“The government cannot eliminate waste and fraud if district courts bar the very agency personnel with expertise and the designated mission of curtailing such waste and fraud from performing their jobs,” according to a CNN report.

This legal move follows a divided ruling by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld a lower court’s decision to block DOGE’s access to the SSA data. The administration contends that the injunction severely hampers efforts to modernize federal systems and reduce inefficiencies.

“The district court is forcing the executive branch to stop employees charged with modernizing government information systems from accessing the data in those systems because, in the court’s judgment, those employees do not ‘need’ such access,” the appeal states. It further argues that the injunction represents “inappropriate superintendence of a coequal branch,” by interfering with internal executive branch decisions.

The emergency request was submitted to Chief Justice John Roberts, who oversees appeals from the Fourth Circuit. He is expected to refer the matter to the full Supreme Court, and has ordered opposing parties to respond by May 12.

In the appellate court’s majority opinion, U.S. Circuit Judge Robert King wrote that the data DOGE sought was highly restricted and typically accessible only to “the few most experienced and trusted” individuals within the SSA. King, a Clinton appointee, said the request violated SSA policies regarding access limitations and separation of duties.

Ultimately, nine judges voted to uphold the lower court’s order, leaving DOGE’s access to the data on hold for now.