Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Millions of Education Department Records
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.
John Q. Hosedrinker