Trump Refuses to Have SSA Head Testify About Unprecedented Use of ‘Death Master File’

The Trump administration has declined a federal judge’s request for the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to testify in a hearing that could lead to a preliminary injunction.

Trump Administration Blocks SSA Commissioner From Testifying

The case involves concerns over the agency granting the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the personal data of millions of Americans. Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek was expected to provide clarity around DOGE’s involvement in manipulating sensitive federal systems. However, the Department of Justice notified the court that Dudek would not appear, choosing instead to rely on previous legal briefings and the administrative record. The controversy centers on the SSA’s alleged misuse of the “death master file,” a database traditionally used to track deceased Social Security recipients. Reports suggest that over 6,000 legal immigrants were added to this file—essentially declaring them dead and rendering their Social Security numbers invalid. This, according to The New York Times, was an attempt to pressure them into leaving the country voluntarily.

Severe Impact on Immigrants and Legal Rights

Being added to the death master file has devastating consequences. According to a sworn declaration from Tiffany Flick, the former SSA acting chief of staff with nearly 30 years of experience, those marked as deceased could face frozen bank accounts, denied medical coverage, canceled life insurance, and even job loss. Flick labeled the administration’s move as “unheard of and improper,” adding that it could lead to cases of mistaken identity and false arrest. Flick emphasized that such errors are rare in normal SSA operations, with less than 0.33% of the nearly 3 million annual death records needing correction. She warned that falsely declaring living people as dead would wreak havoc on their lives, including access to essential services like Medicaid, SNAP (food assistance), ACA insurance programs, and tax filing.

Legal Challenges and Privacy Concerns

The lawsuit was filed in February by a coalition of labor organizations and advocacy groups who allege that DOGE employees were given unauthorized access to SSA systems, breaching federal privacy laws. Judge Ellen Hollander of Maryland cited media reports about the misuse of the death master file as part of her reasoning for wanting Dudek to testify. However, the administration’s refusal raises further questions about transparency and legality. Hollander had previously criticized DOGE, led by Elon Musk, for operating without accountability and called their access to sensitive data a “fishing expedition” under the guise of investigating fraud—claims she labeled baseless.

Political Fallout and Calls for Oversight

Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Richard Neal (MA) and John Larson (CT), condemned the Trump administration’s actions. In a joint statement, they accused the administration of weaponizing Social Security and bypassing due process. “If they cancel the Social Security number of one person, where do they stop?” the statement read. The representatives warned that the unprecedented move poses a grave threat to earned benefits and civil liberties, calling on the public to demand accountability. As the legal battle unfolds, questions remain about how far DOGE’s reach into government data systems will go—and at what cost to ordinary citizens.