OPM seeks dismissal of email server lawsuit, submits privacy assessment

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two anonymous federal employees, who allege the agency illegally used a new email server to send mass communications without a required privacy impact assessment (PIA). The lawsuit claims the emails were related to the Trump administration's workforce reduction efforts, including a controversial resignation offer. OPM argues that the E-Government Act's PIA requirement only applies to systems handling public data, asserting the plaintiffs misinterpret the law. Despite this, OPM submitted a PIA to the court after the lawsuit was filed, which states the system only collects information from federal employees. The plaintiffs have since sought a temporary restraining order to halt the server's use, emphasizing concerns over potential privacy violations and inadequate security measures. The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding data privacy and governmental transparency in employee communications.