Abdelrahman
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A judge has issued a temporary injunction prohibiting two federal agencies from sharing records containing sensitive personal information with representatives from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, determined that both the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management may have breached the Privacy Act by sharing individuals’ personal details with DOGE without obtaining consent.
The ruling followed a temporary restraining order requested by attorneys representing unions and organizations for current and former federal employees. Judge Boardman, who heard arguments last week, clarified that her order does not inhibit President Donald Trump, a Republican, from pursuing the administration’s agenda.
“This order prevents the release of the plaintiffs’ sensitive personal information to DOGE affiliates who currently lack a valid need to access that information for their duties,” she stated.
The sensitive data accessed by DOGE representatives included bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and home addresses. Judge Boardman noted that this information could enable DOGE to construct an extensive profile of the plaintiffs’ family, professional, or financial situations.
“The ongoing, unauthorized release of the plaintiffs’ sensitive personal information poses an irreparable harm that cannot be resolved through monetary compensation,” Boardman remarked. She was appointed by Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include the American Federation of Teachers, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
AFT President Randi Weingarten stated that Boardman’s ruling represents “a significant decision that establishes a protective barrier against individuals who we believe lack the legitimacy and authority to access Americans’ personal information and are using it inappropriately.”
“We initiated this case to safeguard individuals’ privacy. When people provide their financial and personal data to the federal government—particularly to obtain financial assistance for college or secure a student loan—they expect this information to be protected and used for its intended purposes, not repurposed for different agendas,” Weingarten expressed.
Musk has been at the forefront of Trump’s initiative to reform and reduce the size of the federal government. Recently, he demanded that federal employees justify their accomplishments or face termination, prompting attorneys for workers to assert in a California lawsuit on Monday that he has acted unlawfully.
Trump has defended Musk’s initiatives as essential for eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse within the federal government.
DOGE has significantly reduced contracts from the Education Department, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.
This past Saturday, spokesperson Madison Biedermann announced that a national test designed to assess the reading and math skills of 17-year-olds had been canceled.
The Long-Term Trend Assessment, which began in the 1970s, is conducted every four years for students aged 9, 13, and 17. Testing for 17-year-olds has not occurred since 2012 due to budget limitations. The discontinuation will impact the collection of essential longitudinal data regarding the educational progress of students affected by the pandemic.
The tests are part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Biedermann clarified that the cuts do not influence the main NAEP assessments for fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders, which are conducted biennially and referred to as “the nation’s report card.” However, she did not provide specific reasons for the cuts.
“The agency remains committed to supporting the NAEP and ensuring transparency regarding measures of student achievement,” Biedermann added.
