The complaint alleges that a DOGE staffer working with the SSA had extensive system access and downloaded information from key government databases, including Numident, the agency’s master file containing identifying information linked to every Social Security number issued since 1936.
The “Numident” and “Master Death File” databases contain information on over 500 million Americans, both living and deceased. However, investigators have not confirmed the exact scale of the data involved.
The engineer allegedly informed the whistleblower that he required assistance moving data from a thumb drive “to his personal computer so that he could ‘sanitize’ the data before using it at [the company],” according to the lawsuit. The engineer informed coworkers that he intended to upload the data into the company’s systems after removing any personal information.
The allegations are being examined by the SSA’s Office of Inspector General, which oversees misconduct investigations within the agency. If confirmed, the case could represent one of the most significant insider-access data security incidents affecting US government records.
Lambert: “Sanitize.” So the staffer had that much conscience. One can only wonder who didn’t.
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