March 10, 2026

Alliance for Retired Americans Responds to SSA IG Data Breach Investigation

Whistleblower alleges that a DOGE engineer removed Americans’ sensitive data on a thumb drive

Statement of Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans responding to a 3/10/26 Washington Post report regarding alleged illegal theft of personal data held by the Social Security Administration. In February 2025, the Alliance, together with AFSCME and AFT, sued the SSA in federal court to protect Americans’ personal information.

“Allegations that a ‘DOGE bro’ may have removed highly sensitive Social Security data onto a thumb drive should set off alarm bells across the country. Social Security holds some of the most personal information Americans have, including Social Security numbers, birth and health records, and lifetime earnings histories. If these reports are accurate, it is a stunning, illegal data security breach.

Americans deserve timely, honest answers about what happened, whose information may have been exposed, what will be done to protect them going forward. Anyone involved must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Congress and the Social Security Inspector General must move quickly to get the facts and ensure that all involved in this reported data breach are punished.”

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Contact: Lisa Cutler at lcutler@retiredamericans.org