Court Overturns Ruling, DOGE Accesses Sensitive Data

A divided federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling, allowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to access sensitive data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Department of Education, and potentially the Treasury Department. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, lifted the injunction imposed by Judge Deborah Boardman that had blocked data sharing. The appeals court also voted 8-7 against an 'en banc' review, which would involve all active judges. The decision has faced opposition from groups like the American Federation of Teachers, who argue that such access violates privacy laws, including the Privacy Act of 1974. Critics are concerned that the sensitive data, which includes Social Security numbers and personal demographics, could be misused for advancing government agendas such as immigration. Legal challenges remain, with the Department of Justice yet to comment on the ruling.