This article details an affidavit filed by Tiffany Flick, a former senior official at the Social Security Administration (SSA), describing how Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) infiltrated the agency. The affidavit claims that DOGE deputies accessed sensitive SSA databases and formed a secretive unit under Musk’s direction. Flick, who was the acting chief of staff at SSA, raised concerns that these actions could lead to interruptions in Social Security payments.

The affidavit reveals that Michael Russo, a DOGE aide, was appointed as SSA’s chief information officer (CIO) and pushed for the rapid onboarding of Akash Bobba, a young software engineer from DOGE, to access sensitive data. Despite concerns over Bobba’s background check and the unusual nature of his appointment, Bobba was granted access to the SSA’s Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW), which contains highly sensitive personal data of millions of Americans.

Flick also described how Russo assembled a secretive team at SSA that reported directly to DOGE, bypassing SSA leadership. Concerns arose over DOGE’s actions, particularly regarding Musk’s unfounded belief that a significant portion of Social Security payments was going to deceased individuals. This misreading of SSA data and unauthorized access to sensitive information led to fears of data misuse and disruptions in services.

The situation worsened with the forced resignation of SSA acting commissioner Michelle King and the appointment of Leland Dudek, a DOGE associate, as her replacement. This, along with mass layoffs and staff departures, weakened the agency’s capacity to manage its critical functions. Experts, including former SSA administrator Martin O’Malley, warned that these changes could lead to breakdowns in the agency’s operations, potentially affecting Social Security payments for millions of beneficiaries.