Larson Demands Full Committee Hearing on ‘DOGE’ Data Breach

“Mr. Chairman, I think it's important that this committee, who [is] the committee of cognizance, gets the answers to this,” said Larson. “We tried earlier with a [Resolution of Inquiry] to have Elon Musk come before here, but apparently there are some people in this country that are above the law and don't have to come before the Congress. And now we have ‘DOGE’ 24-year-olds, unvetted, unaccountable, doing the same thing with people's information.” 

Two weeks ago, the New York Timespublished a whistleblower report that ‘DOGE’ has copied sensitive information, including names, Social Security numbers, and addresses, to a vulnerable cloud environment. Rep. Larson has been sounding the alarm for months about ‘DOGE’s’ plan to rummage through private data and introduced legislation in March to block their access and strengthen penalties for privacy violations. The Supreme Court greenlit DOGE access while the case makes its way through the courts, overturning two lower court decisions. Following their decision, Rep. Larson wrote to Chairman Smith demanding an urgent hearing on his data privacy bill. 

You can read a transcript of Rep. Larson’s remarks and questions below:  

Ranking Member Larson: “Mr. Chairman, I want to ask you if you will commit to bringing ‘DOGE’ before us to hold a hearing on the whistleblower report.” 

Chairman Estes: “We're working, my understanding is legal counsel is looking at the whistleblowers. Obviously, there's sensitivity around that. I do think there will be some more information that comes out over that. We want to make sure that, one, we protect the confidentiality of the whistleblower, and we'll figure out how to move forward with that, working with the whistleblower and their representatives on what to do moving forward.” 

Larson: “ So is that a yes?” 

Estes: “Well, I don't know if we'll have a hearing, but certainly we want to proceed. Obviously, it's a very important on whistleblowers to make sure that not only do we make sure the programs work right, but also make sure that we protect their confidentiality and their preferences as well.” 

Larson: “Well, I know how fervent everybody was on the other side of the aisle to make sure that Hunter Biden, the whistleblower there, was brought in. And it’d be nice to see that when you have something at stake — and this is all the information on Hunter — when we have something like everyone's Social Security records at stake here — I think it's mandatory that this Congress and the American people know exactly what's happened — Mrs. Gronniger, would you agree with that?” 

Tracey Gronniger: “Yes. I think it is an important topic, and I think people would like to know more.” 

Larson: “Let me ask the other panelists. Do you agree that the whistleblower should, and these charges? Let me start with an easy question. Do you know have any idea, Mr. Tyree, where that information is SSA, that ‘DOGE’ spirited away.” 

Sean Tyree: “I do not, Mr. Larson, and based on my lived experience, I'd like to know where it is as well, but I'm not going to speak for others. Thank you.” 

 Larson: “Mrs. Wallish.” 

 Amy Wallish: “No, I do not know where it is.” 

Larson: “Mr. Sanderson, Dr. Hoffman. No, it's, again, I understand, I get the point that you probably can't possibly know, but here it is. And you all did an excellent job in your presentations and have valid concerns about disability and how we can improve it, but how can we improve it if we're laying off 7,000 people, if we're not fixing the antiquated phone system, if we're saying it's all going to change because of AI, and yet, an unvetted group of people is allowed to come in and look at everybody's individual records. Is that a good thing, Mrs. Gronniger?” 

Gronniger: “No, I don't think so, Representative Larson.” 

Larson: “Doctor Hoffman.” 

Dr. Denise Hoffman: “I will note that from a contractor point of view, we have to go through extensive vetting to be able to access data.” 

Larson: “But no one from ‘DOGE’ did. Mr. Sanderson.” 

Jarrod Sanderson: “Yeah, in general, I think it's very important to maintain people's privacy and their confidential information. That's always the case in any setting.” 

 Larson: “Mrs. Wallish.” 

Wallish: “I agree you have to be vetted, and there is a process for being clear to be able to see information.” 

Larson: “Thank you. Mr. Tyree.” 

Tyree: “Yeah, I believe it's a subject matter that should be kept confidential at all times.” 

Larson: “So we have this situation where we have the nation's number one anti-poverty program for the elderly, the number one anti-poverty program for children carrying all of the documentation of more than 70 million people, but in essence, it's all of America who is going to be on Social Security. And certainly and clearly, there are things that we could do to improve and help and aid people with disabilities. The waiting period to receive [disability benefits] — people have died waiting to get their disability payments. Why in God's name are we spiriting that information away and putting it in a cloud? Whatever that means. I just can't fathom it. And I think it's, Mr. Chairman, I think it's important that this committee, who [is] the committee of cognizance, gets the answers to this. We tried earlier with a [Resolution of Inquiry] to have Elon Musk come before here, but apparently there are some people in this country that are above the law and don't have to come before the Congress. And now we have ‘DOGE’ 24-year-olds, unvetted, unaccountable, doing the same thing with people's information, unaccountable for [it]. I want to thank the witnesses for your candor and your honesty.”