The U.S. government’s ambitious plan to centralise vast amounts of sensitive data could significantly increase the risk of exposing personal information, experts warn.
As part of its initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aims to consolidate data across federal agencies, including Social Security, medical records, and tax information, into a single centralised database.
This move is part of a broader government effort to streamline operations and cut spending but has raised alarms regarding privacy and security.
While the goal is to modernise government functions and fight fraud, critics argue that this centralisation could create severe vulnerabilities. Experts are particularly concerned about the potential for cyberattacks, and civil rights advocates worry the data could be misused for political purposes.
These concerns have grown as DOGE’s methods, reportedly bypassing established safeguards, come under closer scrutiny.
Centralisation of Sensitive Data: An Unprecedented Step
According to reports, the U.S. government, under the guidance of DOGE, is seeking to create an unprecedented centralised system that pools personal information from a range of government databases.
This includes highly sensitive details such as Social Security numbers, medical records, and tax data, which are traditionally kept in separate, siloed systems to prevent misuse or accidental exposure.
Government officials working with DOGE have claimed that consolidating data will help the government more effectively combat fraud and ensure efficient service delivery.
However, privacy and cybersecurity experts warn that the consolidation of such personal data into a single, vulnerable system would make it an appealing target for hackers, especially in light of the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks.
In a statement, Charles Henderson, a cybersecurity expert from Coalfire, remarked, “Separation and segmentation is one of the core principles in sound cybersecurity. Putting all your eggs in one basket means I don’t need to go hunting for them — I can just steal the basket.” This analogy highlights the grave risks involved in such a drastic policy change.
The Wider Impact of the Centralisation Plan
Concerns about the potential misuse of data extend beyond security risks. Critics fear that the information being consolidated could be used for politically motivated decisions, such as targeting political opponents or making selective funding decisions.
These worries have led to calls for more oversight and transparency in the way DOGE handles sensitive information.
Recent reports also revealed that DOGE’s methods have bypassed traditional privacy protocols. For example, at several government agencies, sensitive data has been accessed without appropriate cybersecurity protections.
In one instance, a new visa program website was set up without the usual virtual private network (VPN), leaving the data exposed to potential breaches.
These revelations have prompted federal employees and civil rights groups to question whether the current system in place is sufficient to ensure the security and ethical handling of citizens’ personal data.
As Jake Williams, a former NSA hacker, pointed out, combining multiple valuable data sets into one accessible location makes it all the more attractive to adversaries, both domestic and international.
In response to the backlash, a White House spokesperson argued that the government’s efforts to modernise data systems are in full compliance with the law, asserting that DOGE’s operations are being conducted by some of the brightest cybersecurity professionals in the country. However, critics remain unconvinced, fearing the long-term consequences of such an untested approach to data centralisation.
