The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case involving a controversial social media post that mixed Dogecoin imagery with a reference to Social Security, marking the end of a legal battle that began during the Trump administration.
The case stemmed from a 2017 meme posted by a federal employee, which featured the popular Shiba Inu dog from Dogecoin alongside a satirical claim about Social Security benefits. The post, shared on personal social media, led to disciplinary action from the agency, prompting a lawsuit over free speech rights.
Lower courts ruled in favor of the government, stating that the employee’s post could be seen as disruptive to workplace operations. The Supreme Court’s refusal to take the case leaves those rulings in place.
Legal experts say the case highlights ongoing tensions between government employees’ First Amendment rights and agencies’ authority to regulate speech that may affect public trust. Dogecoin, initially created as a joke cryptocurrency, has since gained a cult following, even receiving endorsements from celebrities like Elon Musk.
The dispute also reflects broader debates over social media use by public employees and the limits of humor in official communications.
