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SSA Chief Data Officer Resigns Amidst Whistleblower Complaint
The Social Security Administration’s chief data officer, Charles Borges, resigned Friday following a whistleblower complaint alleging a massive security breach. Borges claims Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees uploaded the entire nation’s Social Security data to a vulnerable cloud environment.
The SSA refuted the claim, stating the data is stored in a long-standing, secure environment isolated from the internet and that no compromise has occurred.
Borges’ resignation letter, addressed to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano, paints a picture of internal retaliation. He claims he faced “exclusion, isolation, internal strife, and a culture of fear” after reporting his concerns, ultimately making his job untenable. He characterized his departure as a “constructive discharge.”
The Government Accountability Project (GAP), representing Borges, confirmed his resignation. GAP attorney Andrea Meza stated Borges could no longer work for the SSA “in good conscience.” Borges plans to cooperate with oversight bodies on the matter.
This situation unfolds against the backdrop of a recent Supreme Court decision allowing DOGE access to sensitive Social Security data, despite privacy concerns raised by labor unions and advocacy groups.
Borges, who assumed the chief data officer role in January, brought a wealth of experience from previous positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House, and the Navy. His LinkedIn post Friday simply read, “It is never wrong to be morally and ethically right with yourself.”
The SSA declined to comment on personnel matters.