A U.S. District Judge in Greenbelt, Maryland, has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management from disclosing sensitive personal information to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) without consent. The judge ruled that the agencies likely violated the Privacy Act by sharing personal data such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses with DOGE affiliates.
The order was granted in response to a lawsuit filed by unions and groups representing federal employees, including the American Federation of Teachers and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. The judge emphasized that the disclosure of personal information to DOGE affiliates could result in irreparable harm to the plaintiffs.
