Judge Upholds DOGE Access to Sensitive Treasury Data Amid Privacy Concerns

A D.C. federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) can continue to access sensitive Treasury Department data, denying an injunction requested by plaintiffs concerned about privacy risks. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly acknowledged the plaintiffs' fears but stated they failed to demonstrate an imminent threat of misuse of the data. This decision reverses a previous order that limited access to existing Treasury employees and specific DOGE staff. Additionally, a separate judge indicated that DOGE may be required to comply with public records laws in light of a lawsuit alleging that it operates as a 'black box' agency. The controversy surrounding DOGE stems from its opaque operations and Musk’s leadership amid significant government workforce reductions. Critics are particularly concerned about potential conflicts of interest given Musk's business ventures.