Of inquiry requesting the President of the United States to furnish certain information to the House of Representatives relating to the Department of Government Efficiency's access to and usage of NUMIDENT and other personally identifiable information in the possession of the Social Security Administration.

Bill Number

H.Res. 1059

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2026-03-04T09:06:39Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution (H. Res. 1059) requests the President to provide specific documents and information to the House of Representatives about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE, an entity aimed at improving government operations) and its access to sensitive personal data held by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The focus is on potential misuse or unauthorized sharing of personally identifiable information (PII), such as records from the SSA's Numerical Identification System (NUMIDENT, a database containing details like names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers for millions of individuals).

Key Provisions

• Timeline and Scope: The President must furnish the requested materials to the House within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.
• Types of Materials Requested: Includes any documents, records, audio recordings, memos, call logs, correspondence (email or other), audit trails/logs, written agreements, or other communications in the President's possession that relate to four specific areas:

1. DOGE efforts (involving Elon Musk, his team, or coordinators) to share SSA's NUMIDENT or other PII with nongovernmental organizations analyzing state voter rolls or challenging election results.
2. Sharing of NUMIDENT or other SSA PII with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on or after January 20, 2025, including a specific encrypted file sent on March 3, 2025, from a DOGE member at SSA to DHS (copied to Steve Davis).
3. Use of third-party services like Cloudflare by DOGE members (at or with SSA) to share electronic files containing SSA information.
4. DOGE actions (by Musk, team, or coordinators) to access, use, or transmit SSA's NUMIDENT or other PII in violation of laws, against SSA policies, or ignoring court orders (a temporary restraining order from March 20, 2025, and a preliminary injunction from April 17, 2025, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland).

• The resolution was introduced on February 11, 2026, by Rep. John Larson (D-CT) and co-sponsors (all Democrats) and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws. It is a non-binding request for information under Congress's oversight authority, rather than new legislation that amends statutes or creates enforceable rules.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Could prompt increased scrutiny and audits of SSA, DHS, and DOGE operations, potentially leading to policy reviews on data sharing and third-party access. It may strain inter-agency coordination if compliance reveals procedural lapses.
• On Citizens: Heightens focus on protecting PII privacy, as unauthorized sharing could risk identity theft or misuse (e.g., in election contexts). No direct immediate effects, but outcomes might strengthen data safeguards for SSA beneficiaries (over 70 million Americans).
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though any findings on data misuse could indirectly affect U.S. credibility in global privacy standards or election integrity discussions.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Congress (House of Representatives): Seeks information to exercise oversight, particularly the Ways and Means Committee.
• Executive Branch: The President, SSA, DHS, and DOGE (including Elon Musk and associates like Steve Davis) must respond, potentially facing compliance burdens.
• Citizens and Privacy Advocates: Individuals whose PII is in SSA databases (e.g., Social Security recipients) could benefit from enhanced protections if misuse is uncovered.
• Nongovernmental Organizations: Groups involved in voter roll analysis or election challenges may face indirect scrutiny if linked to data sharing.
• Courts: References to existing Maryland District Court orders highlight judicial involvement in related privacy disputes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Raises concerns about compliance with privacy laws (e.g., Privacy Act of 1974, which restricts federal handling of PII) and court injunctions against unauthorized data access/transmission. Non-response by the President could lead to further legal challenges or contempt proceedings.
• Constitutional: Invokes Congress's Article I powers for oversight and information demands on the executive branch, testing separation of powers if the request is ignored (historical precedent includes similar resolutions leading to subpoenas).
• Political: As a partisan measure (introduced solely by Democrats), it could fuel debates on government efficiency initiatives, data privacy in elections, and the role of private figures like Elon Musk in public administration, potentially escalating congressional-executive tensions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2026-02-11: Submitted in House
• 2026-02-11: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Of inquiry requesting the President of the United States to furnish certain information to the House of Representatives relating to the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to and usage of NUMIDENT and other personally identifiable information in the possession of the Social Security Administration. — issued 2026-02-11 — PDF (3 pages)