Federal Court Allows Privacy Lawsuit Against DOGE to Proceed

A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to proceed, amid allegations of a significant data breach. The case was brought forth by the American Federation of Government Employees, other labor unions, and former federal employees, claiming that OPM granted unrestricted access to its systems to DOGE, violating the Privacy Act and Administrative Procedure Act. While the judge dismissed some claims, she permitted others to move forward, emphasizing the plausibility of the allegations that DOGE agents demanded immediate access to OPM records. This ruling comes after the government attempted to dismiss the case, but the court found sufficient grounds for the lawsuit to continue. The plaintiffs are seeking to block further disclosures and recover any information already shared. The outcome remains uncertain, but this ruling represents a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle over data privacy.