Federal Judge Blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive US Agency Data

A federal judge has blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal data at multiple U.S. agencies, dealing a blow to the Trump administration’s sweeping government overhaul.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a preliminary injunction Monday, siding with a coalition of labor unions that accused the government of illegally granting DOGE access to private records—including Social Security numbers, income details, and student loan information—without consent.

Judge Rules Trump Administration Likely Broke Privacy Laws

The lawsuit, led by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), argued that the Trump administration violated the Privacy Act by allowing DOGE to mine data from the Education Department, Treasury, and Office of Personnel Management.

Judge Boardman, a Biden appointee, found that the government failed to justify why DOGE needed unrestricted access to millions of records. She wrote that the public’s trust in federal data security had “likely been breached.”

“No matter how important or urgent the President’s DOGE agenda may be, federal agencies must execute it in accordance with the law,” Boardman stated. “That likely did not happen here.”

DOGE’s Controversial Role in Federal Downsizing

The ruling comes as President Trump pushes aggressive cost-cutting measures, including dismantling the Education Department and shifting student loan oversight to the Small Business Administration.

DOGE, created to root out government waste, has faced accusations of overreach. The lawsuit claims DOGE used student loan data not to improve efficiency but to “dismantle” the Education Department.

Growing Legal Pushback

This isn’t the first legal setback for DOGE. Last week, another judge temporarily blocked its access to Social Security databases in a separate Maryland case.

The injunction currently protects only the plaintiffs—including military veterans and federal employees—but sets a precedent for broader challenges.

Unions and Advocates Celebrate Ruling

AFT President Randi Weingarten called the decision a “victory for privacy and accountability,” while groups like the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association backed the lawsuit.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, insists DOGE is modernizing government operations and targeting fraud. An appeal is expected.

{Source AP News}

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