Labor Unions Sue to Block DOGE Access to Sensitive Information at US Agencies
A coalition of labor unions has filed a lawsuit to stop DOGE, a team led by Elon Musk, from accessing private data at the Education Department, the Treasury Department, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The suit alleges that the Trump administration violated federal privacy laws by granting DOGE access to systems containing personal information on tens of millions of Americans without their consent.
Violations of Federal Privacy Laws
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is leading the lawsuit, which claims that DOGE’s access to these systems is a violation of the Privacy Act. The suit argues that the Trump administration gave DOGE access to sensitive data for reasons beyond its intended use, including the Education Department’s student loan program. This has led to a massive data breach, compromising the safety and security of personal identifying information for millions of Americans.
Breach of Public Trust
The AFT, which represents 1.8 million workers in education, healthcare, and government, is joined by six individuals with sensitive information stored in federal systems, including military veterans who received federal student loans and other benefits. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are also backing the suit.
Consequences of Data Breach
The lawsuit warns of safety risks to personal data that has been shared with DOGE, including the Education Department’s system housing information on over 40 million Americans with federal student loans. The database includes Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, home addresses, and more. A breach of this magnitude would be a national scandal, said Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT.
Impact on Education Department
DOGE has cut about $900 million in Education Department contracts, concluding that they were a waste of taxpayer money. The cuts span 90 contracts at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), a research branch of the federal agency. The department did not release additional details, but the cuts will not affect core operations, including the NAEP exam and the College Scorecard.
Conclusion
The lawsuit seeks to block DOGE’s access to sensitive data, including the Education Department’s student loan program, the Treasury Department’s systems, and the OPM’s database with sensitive information on all 2.3 million federal employees. The suit also seeks the destruction of any records that have already been disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of the lawsuit?
A: The lawsuit aims to block DOGE’s access to sensitive information at US agencies, including the Education Department, the Treasury Department, and the Office of Personnel Management.
Q: Who is leading the lawsuit?
A: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is leading the lawsuit, joined by several other labor unions and individuals with sensitive information stored in federal systems.
Q: What are the consequences of the data breach?
A: The lawsuit warns of safety risks to personal data, including the possibility of identity theft and other security breaches.
Q: What is the impact on the Education Department?
A: DOGE has cut about $900 million in Education Department contracts, concluding that they were a waste of taxpayer money. The cuts will not affect core operations, including the NAEP exam and the College Scorecard.
