Following the revelation that Trump administration officials shared war plans via a secure app including a journalist, GOP consultant Sarah Longwell condemned the actions on X. She characterized the officials as “idiots,” emphasizing the significant danger of their actions. The incident highlights a concerning breach of security and demonstrates a profound lack of judgment.
The sheer audacity of it all is breathtaking. Imagine: top-level US government officials, supposedly strategizing about sensitive military operations, doing so over a group chat app so insecure that it invites accidental inclusion of a journalist. This wasn’t some encrypted, secure channel—this was a casual group chat, seemingly open to anyone, with messages disappearing after just four weeks. This is not just a lapse in judgment; it’s a blatant disregard for established security protocols.
The casual use of emojis only adds to the shocking incompetence. One can easily envision the seriousness of the situation being undercut by a poorly placed smiley face or a thumbs-up emoji amid discussions of potential attacks.… Continue reading
The Trump administration’s release of 64,000 unredacted JFK assassination files inadvertently exposed the personal information of hundreds of Americans, including Social Security numbers. This action prompted outrage from former government officials whose data was compromised, citing risks of identity theft and threats. While the White House acknowledged the error and initiated a response plan with the National Archives and Social Security Administration, the release yielded no significant new revelations about the assassination itself. Critics condemned the release as reckless and unprofessional, highlighting the potential harm inflicted on individuals without sufficient consideration.
The release of unredacted JFK assassination files resulted in the accidental disclosure of sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, prompting outrage and legal action. Former Trump lawyer Joseph diGenova plans to sue the National Archives, citing negligence in the review process. The White House claims the release fulfilled a promise of transparency and that a plan is in place to offer credit monitoring and new Social Security numbers to affected individuals. However, the decision-making process behind the release of this personal data remains unexplained.
A Maryland federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal data held by the Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management. The judge found that granting DOGE broad access to this information, including social security numbers and financial details, violated the Privacy Act of 1974. The lawsuit, filed by unions representing federal employees and student aid recipients, argued the access posed a significant identity theft risk. The court determined that while a “need-to-know” exception might exist, the government failed to justify DOGE’s sweeping access to millions of records for its stated purpose of auditing student loan programs. The order temporarily protects the plaintiffs’ data, pending further justification from the administration.
Federal Judge Deborah Boardman issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management from sharing personal data with DOGE affiliates until March 10th, citing violations of the Privacy Act. This follows a similar preliminary injunction issued by a New York court blocking Treasury Department data access to DOGE. Both rulings address concerns about unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal information to DOGE, deemed irreparable harm. The Maryland court declined to extend its order to Treasury data due to the pre-existing New York injunction.
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing sensitive personal information with representatives from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The judge found that this disclosure likely violated the Privacy Act by releasing data—including bank account numbers and Social Security numbers—without consent. The order protects current and former federal employees from potential misuse of their data by DOGE. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by several unions representing federal employees, who argue the data is being used inappropriately. The judge clarified that the order does not impede the administration’s broader policy goals, only the unauthorized release of sensitive personal information.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), launched a website aiming to create a comprehensive government org chart, inadvertently published classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) data, including personnel and budget details. This sensitive information, designated “NOFURN,” raises concerns about data security and the source of the leak. The incident prompted investigations into how DOGE obtained the classified information, particularly given Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s substantial contract with the NRO. The NRO declined to comment, deferring to DOGE.
Launched Wednesday, DOGE.gov aimed to enhance government transparency by tracking federal spending and agency data. However, the site inadvertently included sensitive, classified information from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), a U.S. intelligence agency. This breach raises concerns about data security and potential conflicts of interest, given SpaceX’s significant contract with the NRO. The incident has prompted an internal investigation within the intelligence community to assess the extent of the data compromise.
The hastily launched doge.gov website, intended to showcase Elon Musk’s government efficiency initiatives, suffers from a critical security vulnerability. Its database, accessible and editable by the public, has already been exploited, resulting in unauthorized entries appearing on the live site. This unsecured system, hosted on Cloudflare Pages rather than government servers, raises serious concerns about data integrity and the website’s overall reliability. The vulnerability highlights the risks associated with rapid deployment of government websites without adequate security measures.
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood