DOGE Uncovers Confidential Files: Housing Discrimination, Medical Secrets, and Domestic Violence Exposed

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly gained access to a sensitive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) system that contains personal information on numerous alleged housing discrimination victims, including domestic violence survivors. Known as the HUD Enforcement Management System (HEMS), this database typically holds confidential data, including medical records and financial information.

This recent move by DOGE adds to its ongoing attempts to access personal data from various government agencies, including the IRS and the Treasury Department. The administration contends that direct access to these systems is essential for eliminating waste and fraud within government operations. However, this has raised significant concerns among privacy advocates and officials.

Pushback against DOGE’s activities has been vigorous. Lawsuits have been filed citing privacy violations, and some career officials have resigned in response to access requests. Judges have also intervened, temporarily blocking DOGE from accessing records at the Department of Education and other agencies, with DOGE making concessions to only review anonymized taxpayer information at the IRS.

The HEMS database is particularly sensitive, harboring detailed records on cases of housing discrimination. This includes the relocation addresses of domestic violence survivors and intimate accounts of harassment. The risk of exposing such information heightens the stakes for victims if confidentiality is compromised.

In light of these developments, HUD officials have expressed grave concerns over DOGE’s access to HEMS. They fear that mishandling of this private information could endanger the very individuals the agency aims to protect. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s potential plans to cut HUD’s workforce by 50%, particularly in its Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office, add another layer to the ongoing dialogue about safeguarding civil rights.

Organizations advocating for civil liberties have loudly criticized DOGE’s data access, suggesting it may violate the Privacy Act. Cody Venzke from the ACLU highlighted the contradiction between the agency’s claimed mission and the implications for civil rights enforcement. Others worry that the data could be used to undermine existing protections against housing discrimination.

Legal experts, including John Davisson from the Electronic Privacy Information Center, have voiced concern that DOGE’s intentions may not align with the stated goal of curbing inefficiency. Instead, they argue, it appears to pursue control over critical datasets to influence federal operations.

Requests for comment from HUD, the White House, and DOGE went unanswered. In a statement following the initial report, HUD’s Kasey Lovett claimed that DOGE does not have access to HEMS, although she did not substantiate this assertion with evidence.

Each year, HUD’s Fair Housing office processes thousands of discrimination complaints, with several hundred of these cases leading to formal investigations. Typically, access to HEMS is reserved for HUD staff, auditors, and local investigators. However, DOGE received read-only access last week, raising further questions about privacy and the agency’s role in housing discrimination enforcement.