As Chuck Borges, the former SSA data chief turned DOGE whistleblower, embarks on his campaign for Maryland state senator, a sense of urgency and frustration hangs in the air. His experience at SSA was marked by a series of concerning incidents, including the lack of transparency around DOGE's operations, inadequate security protocols for sensitive data, and an apparent disregard for established procedures.
Borges' concerns began when he discovered that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had been handling sensitive Social Security Administration data without his knowledge or approval. As chief data officer at SSA, Borges felt compelled to raise the alarm, but his efforts were met with resistance and a lack of support from his superiors.
"What did I expect would happen?" Borges recalls. "I didn't know what to expect initially." His concerns eventually led him to file a whistleblower complaint, which exposed a series of alarming incidents, including the unauthorized transfer of sensitive data to an unsecured cloud environment.
The situation was dire, with Borges fearing that his concerns would cost him his career. However, he remained resolute in his determination to speak out against what he saw as gross negligence and abuse of power.
"For those who are working, I understand that you're afraid," Borges advises. "Just make sure that you are doing the best to document the work that you're doing, so that it can be tracked and managed by your superiors."
As a Maryland state senator, Borges aims to bring his unique blend of technical expertise, government experience, and whistleblower insight to bear on issues of data security, transparency, and accountability. He believes that this combination will enable him to champion meaningful reforms that prioritize the public interest over partisan or special interests.
For Borges, the stakes are high, but he remains undeterred. "There's never a wrong time to do the right thing," he says.
Borges' concerns began when he discovered that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had been handling sensitive Social Security Administration data without his knowledge or approval. As chief data officer at SSA, Borges felt compelled to raise the alarm, but his efforts were met with resistance and a lack of support from his superiors.
"What did I expect would happen?" Borges recalls. "I didn't know what to expect initially." His concerns eventually led him to file a whistleblower complaint, which exposed a series of alarming incidents, including the unauthorized transfer of sensitive data to an unsecured cloud environment.
The situation was dire, with Borges fearing that his concerns would cost him his career. However, he remained resolute in his determination to speak out against what he saw as gross negligence and abuse of power.
"For those who are working, I understand that you're afraid," Borges advises. "Just make sure that you are doing the best to document the work that you're doing, so that it can be tracked and managed by your superiors."
As a Maryland state senator, Borges aims to bring his unique blend of technical expertise, government experience, and whistleblower insight to bear on issues of data security, transparency, and accountability. He believes that this combination will enable him to champion meaningful reforms that prioritize the public interest over partisan or special interests.
For Borges, the stakes are high, but he remains undeterred. "There's never a wrong time to do the right thing," he says.