Lawsuit Seeks to Block Elon Musk’s Access to Sensitive Government Data

A coalition of labor unions, led by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal data stored in systems across the Education Department, Treasury Department, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration violated federal privacy laws by granting Musk’s team unauthorized access to databases containing private information on tens of millions of Americans without their consent. Filed in Maryland, the suit is the latest in a series of legal challenges against Musk’s growing influence over federal agencies, which he has pledged to reduce or dismantle.

Cuts to Education Department Contracts Spark Controversy

Separately, DOGE has cut approximately $900 million in Education Department contracts, citing concerns over wasteful spending of taxpayer funds. These cuts impact 90 contracts previously held by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the research arm of the federal agency. However, the Education Department has assured that core operations, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam—often referred to as the nation’s report card—and the College Scorecard, which provides data on the cost and outcomes of U.S. universities, will not be affected by the reductions. While the Department has not released additional details, the move has sparked debate over the allocation of resources and the potential impact on critical educational programs.

Privacy Concerns and Risks Highlighted in Lawsuit

The lawsuit filed by the AFT underscores the significant privacy risks associated with sharing sensitive data with Musk’s team. One of the systems in question is an Education Department database containing information on over 40 million Americans with federal student loans. This database includes Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, home addresses, and other personal details. Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that if a private sector entity experienced a breach of this magnitude, it would rightly be considered a national scandal. The Department, she argued, functions as one of the nation’s largest financial institutions, holding immense responsibility to protect the data it oversees.

Allegations of Misuse of Sensitive Data

The lawsuit contends that the Trump administration mishandled sensitive data by sharing it with DOGE for purposes unrelated to its intended use. Instead of using the data to administer the federal student loan program, the suit claims that DOGE accessed the information “for purposes of destroying” the Education Department. This alleged misuse of data directly violates the Privacy Act, which prohibits the disclosure of personal information without consent or for unauthorized purposes. President Donald Trump has long advocated for the dissolution of the Education Department, transferring its authority to state and local governments. Musk, meanwhile, has publicly downplayed the Department’s existence, further fueling concerns among opponents who view these actions as an attempt to dismantle the agency.

Broader Opposition to Musk’s Influence Grows

The AFT, which represents 1.8 million workers in education, healthcare, and government, is joined in the lawsuit by six individuals whose personal data is stored in federal systems. These plaintiffs include military veterans who have received federal student loans and other benefits. The suit also has the support of other major unions, such as the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Additionally, a separate lawsuit filed on behalf of the University of California Student Association has asked a federal judge in Washington to block Musk’s access to Education Department systems. This growing wave of legal challenges reflects widespread concern over the potential misuse of sensitive government data and the unchecked expansion of Musk’s influence over federal agencies.

Legal Battles Over Data Access Intensify

The suit seeks an immediate halt to DOGE’s access to the sensitive databases in question, including the Education Department’s student loan system, Treasury Department systems, and an OPM database containing information on 2.3 million federal employees. It also demands the destruction of any records that may have already been disclosed to Musk’s team. The plaintiffs argue that allowing DOGE to continue accessing these systems poses a significant risk of data breaches, which could have far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans whose personal information is at stake. As legal battles over data privacy and government transparency intensify, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how federal agencies handle sensitive information and collaborate with external entities in the future.