Judge Bars DOGE from Accessing Department of Education Data

(TNS) — A federal judge on Monday issued a two-week restraining order preventing Department of Government Efficiency employees from accessing sensitive data held by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

A suit filed by labor unions argued that the two departments violated the Privacy Act of 1974 by giving DOGE access to citizens’ personal information following an executive order by President Donald Trump in January.

The information DOGE employees could access included citizenship status, Social Security numbers, home addresses, income and disability status.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed by former President Joe Biden, said the plaintiffs demonstrated a “likelihood of success” that DOGE affiliates did not need access to personal information to complete their jobs.

“This continuing, unauthorized disclosure of the plaintiffs' sensitive personal information to DOGE affiliates is irreparable harm that money damages cannot rectify,” Boardman stated.

DOGE and the public figure chosen to lead the unofficial agency, Elon Musk, have made it their goal to eliminate “wasteful spending” at the federal level.

This has resulted in massive cuts to the federal workforce and slashing of several government programs.

DOGE also sought to access sensitive data at the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.

Yet again, lawsuits were filed by labor unions, advocacy groups and Democratic state attorneys general to block DOGE’s access.

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