A year-end review of 2026's major hacks highlights an unresolved controversy over the Department of Government Efficiency's access to Social Security Administration data. Ongoing federal lawsuits and a whistleblower's claims allege DOGE staff uploaded a live copy of the Social Security database to an unsecured third-party server, potentially exposing sensitive personal information tied to most living Americans. The broader roundup also notes a year marked by ransomware, nation-state attacks on infrastructure, and data weaponization by governments.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-15
At a Republican midterm convention in Texas, President Trump promised a $5,000 'dividend' to every adult American citizen if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate this November. He framed the pledge as a turnout booster, saying it alone should secure the midterms for his party.
wired.com
· 2026-09-10
Newly released emails obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request show DOGE affiliate Christopher Sweet, an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, worked with colleague Scott Langmack to seek academic credit for his work at HUD. The pair drafted a framework describing his time building an AI tool called SweetRex — designed to flag agency rules for rescission — as graduate-level research spanning AI, data science, and regulatory law, rather than a standard internship.
wired.com
· 2026-09-03
About 1,600 GSA employees moved from their F Street office to the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building are describing deteriorating conditions, including a caved-in bathroom ceiling, mouse traps, and tap water that must run several seconds before turning clear. The relocation follows sweeping cuts and restructuring at GSA under DOGE, which has also pushed federal workers back into offices while shedding staff and selling off buildings. Neither GSA nor OPM, which also occupies the building, responded to requests for comment.
wired.com
· 2026-08-28
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