Federal Judge Restricts DOGE Access to OPM Databases Over Privacy Breach

A federal judge in New York issued a preliminary injunction restricting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive federal employee databases managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), citing violations of the Privacy Act and cybersecurity protocols. Judge Denise Cote found that OPM illegally granted broad access to DOGE employees without proper vetting or demonstrated need, describing this as a "breach of law and trust" that endangered private information of millions of Americans. The ruling came after a lawsuit filed by federal workers and unions, and the judge emphasized that the injunction would not hinder OPM's IT modernization efforts. This decision has broader implications, including financial market reactions, as DOGE is associated with Elon Musk, whose influence affects cryptocurrency markets like Dogecoin, which experienced a price drop and increased volatility following the ruling. The court order follows recent Supreme Court victories for DOGE but marks a significant check on its operational access to government data. Overall, the ruling highlights concerns about government data privacy and enforcement of cybersecurity standards under the current Trump administration.