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John Sully, A Software engineer and former member of the so-called Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), a DOGE client accused in a whistleblower complaint of telling colleagues that he stored sensitive Social Security Administration (SSA) data on a thumb drive and wanted to share the information with his new employer, multiple sources told WIRED.
Since October, according to a copy of his resume, Sully has worked as chief technology officer of the health IT division of a government contractor called Leidos, which has already received millions of SSA contracts and could receive up to $1.5 billion is in contracts with the SSA based on a five-year deal she signed in 2023. Solly’s personal website and LinkedIn have been taken down as of this week.
In response to a request for comment, Sule, through his legal counsel, denied involvement in any wrongdoing. A Leidos spokesperson also said the company had found no evidence to support the whistleblower’s allegations against Sulli.
Sully was one of the 12 DOGE Team members at SSAwhere, according to the bio on his personal website, he supported “other DOGE engineers on initiatives including Digital SSN, death master file cleanup,” and “SSN Verification API (EDEN 2.0).” The “Death Master File” is an SSA database that contains millions of Social Security records for deceased people and is kept so that their identities cannot be used for fraud. An API, or application programming interface, allows different programs to talk to each other, including pulling data and information from each other. In this case, access to Social Security data could be permitted by agencies and institutions outside the SSA.
The allegation was revealed in a complaint filed with the SSA’s internal watchdog that was first reported earlier this week by The Washington Postwhich did not mention the name of Sully or Leidos. According to the newspaper, the complaint was filed with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of Inspector General earlier this year, and alleges that the former DOGE employee told co-workers that he took copies of the Social Security Administration’s Digital Identification System, or NUMIDENT, as well as a “death master file.” NUMIdent is a major SSA database that contains all the information included in a Social Security number application, including full names, dates of birth, race, and more personally identifiable information.
In the complaint, according to the newspaper, a whistleblower alleges that the former DOGE employee asked for help transferring a batch of data from a thumb drive to a personal computer so he could “sanitize” it before uploading it for use at a private-sector company. The former DOGE employee allegedly said he expected to receive a presidential pardon if his actions were illegal, the complaint states.
“Sulley did not share, access, or view any personally identifiable information (PII) maintained by SSA, including the SSA Death Master File (DMF) and Numerical Identification System. The allegations made by a supposedly anonymous source are patently false and slanderous. Mr. Sully will take all appropriate steps to clear his good name and excellent reputation,” says Seth Waxman, who represents SSA. He added: “He is certain that any fair review of the facts and circumstances surrounding these false allegations will fully exonerate him.”
Leidos is a prime contractor for SSA. Between 2010 and 2018, the company brought Millions of dollars In SSA IT contracts. In 2018, it was Leidos Contracts awarded Potentially $639 million for IT support services and disability claims processing. In 2023, the company announced that it had received a recognition award $1.5 billion IT contract with the agency. As part of a DOGE attack on the US government in early 2025, Leidos, e.g Many government contractors, It saw some of its contracts cut.