Federal Judge Blocks 3 Agencies From Disclosing Personal Data to DOGE

The Epoch Times Header

Mondayโ€™s order is another setback to the Trump administration and DOGE.

A federal judge blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal information from several federal agencies, dealing another setback to the Trump administrationโ€™s attempts to slash federal programs.

In an order issued Monday, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman blocked DOGE, fronted by Elon Musk, from accessing information at the Department of Education, Department of the Treasury, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). It means that those three agencies cannot disclose personally identifying information of plaintiffs who are part of a lawsuit challenging DOGEโ€™s access.

โ€œThose concerns are just as salient today,โ€ Boardman wrote. โ€œNo matter how important or urgent the Presidentโ€™s DOGE agenda may be, federal agencies must execute it in accordance with the law. That likely did not happen in this case.โ€

Boardman then asserted that a presidential order to โ€œmaximize government efficiencyโ€ does not count, adding that DOGEโ€™s access to the agency data may run against the federal Privacy Act and Administrative Procedure Act.

Previously, Boardman had issued a temporary restraining order against DOGEโ€™s access at the three agencies. Mondayโ€™s order strengthens that decision into a preliminary injunction, meaning that her order will last until a final decision on the merits of the case is made.

The judge then told the Department of Education, the Treasury, and the OPM to not hand over any personal identifying information to DOGE officials or their affiliates.

Her order ruled in favor of six plaintiffs who filed the legal complaint. But five union organizations, which represent millions of people, also joined the lawsuit. They include the American Federation of Teachers, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees, and the National Federation of Federal Employees.

Officials affiliated with DOGE were given access to systems that contain personal information, Boardman wrote, noting that it includes Social Security numbers, banking information, home addresses, dates of birth, and other data such as citizenship and marital status.

โ€œEnacted 50 years ago, the Privacy Act protects from unauthorized disclosure the massive amounts of personal information that the federal government collects from large swaths of the public,โ€ the judge wrote.

Byย Jack Phillips

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Was Pope Francis the Worst Pope Ever?

It has been said the recently passed 266th Pope...

LGBTQโ„ข Roundup: Groomers Gone Wild, Pt. II

Trans activist gets triggered by BBC reporter telling him he can't use womenโ€™s toilets, according to UK Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of women.

In Trade War, Chinaโ€™s Chokehold on US Medicine Moves Into Spotlight

Chinaโ€™s iron grip on supply of critical drug ingredients has been years in the making, driven by Beijingโ€™s strategic plan to dominate the pharma industry

College Footballโ€™s Spring rite

The Blue-White game, with the antiquated press box and a large section of the west stands now history and under renovation, marches on, but for how long?

Everything We Know About El Salvador Deportee Abrego Garcia

For more than five years, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was an adjudged illegal immigrant living on borrowed time in the United States.

News

Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Allow Prohibition on Troops With Gender Dysphoria

Trump admin is asking Supreme Court to halt federal judgeโ€™s order preventing it from implementing policy disqualifying individuals with gender dysphoria.

DHS and Country Star John Rich Team Up for Urgent Livestream about Protecting Kids from Online Predators

Know2Protect hosted a livestream featuring DHS Special Agent Dennis Fetting and country music star John Rich on protecting children from online predators.

US Manufacturing Shows Signs of Improvement as Factory Output, Orders Tick Higher

U.S. manufacturing showed modest but meaningful improvement in April, according to data by S&P Global, which showed factory output and orders ticking higher.

Trump Admin Sued by a Dozen States in US Trade Court Over Tariffs

A dozen states on April 23 filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade over its recently announced tariffs.

Supreme Court Seems Inclined to Let Energy Companies Sue California Over Emissions Rules

Supreme Court seemed inclined during oral argument to revive a lawsuit filed by energy companies over Californiaโ€™s tough vehicle emissions standards.

FBI: Losses From Internet Crime Surged 33 Percent in 2024, Topping $16 Billion

Internet-enabled crime cost victims in the U.S. more than $16.6 billion in 2024, a record-breaking 33% increase over previous year, according to FBI report.

Fedโ€™s Kugler: No Rate Cuts in Sight as Inflation, Tariffs Fuel Uncertainty

Federal Reserve Gov. Adriana Kugler said she supports holding interest rates steady due to ongoing inflation risks and new tariffs

IMF Predicts US Fiscal Deficit to Shrink in 2025 Due to Tariffs

The Trump adminโ€™s tariff policies are expected to bring down the fiscal deficit of the U.S. this year, the IMF said in an April 23 report.
spot_img

Related Articles