Judge rules DOGE can access personal data despite invasion of privacy claims

Courthouse News ^ | 6/28/25 | Steve Garrison

[CFW]

A federal judge denied a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, from accessing personal information held by the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

U.S. District Judge John Bates wrote in a 28-page opinion that the plaintiffs, a coalition of unions and nonprofits, have not proven that access to members’ medical or financial records by DOGE employees would cause irreparable harm.

Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, found that the plaintiffs’ complaint fell short of the high bar set for litigants seeking a preliminary injunction. While DOGE’s access to the information presents a possible invasion of privacy, the judge wrote, the unions and nonprofits offer no evidence that the information is likely to be misused or leaked.

“This conclusion does not mean the harm the members face is insubstantial or that the court harbors no concerns that DOGE affiliates have their hands on some of the most personal information individuals entrust to the government,” Bates writes. “To the contrary, the court’s concerns are as grave as ever, and it stands ready to remedy plaintiffs’ harm should they ultimately succeed on the merits.”

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TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: access; aliens; cfpb; courts; doge; hhs; info; judgewatch; labor

[CFW]

Another win for the Trump team. I don't see why possible invasion of privacy worries should be any more of a concern with DOGE employees than they are with DEI hires. I'm more likely to trust Musk's team members.

Court order here:

Court's ruling

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Trump and Musk merely renamed the Department of Digital Services(USDS), created by Obama to address the Obamacare website debacle, to United States DOGE Services and changed its mission to rooting out waste, fraud and corruption.

Obama created USDS with full access to all federal data systems.

And there is nothing they can do about it.

[DPMD]

The suit was totally unnecessary; all DOGE ever had to do was ask China for the data.

[CFW]

“And there is nothing they can do about it.”

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And that is what makes them so mad!

[fuzzylogic]

It really goes to show how easily people can be led down the garden path with nonsense.

How many government employees, OR CONTRACTORS, have access to ‘personal information’? Yet these people have been convinced that DOGE is, somehow, something to worry about.

E.g. “Elon is going to steal your Social Security”...it’s nuts.

[shanover]

Who DOESN’T have access to our information if it’s connected to the government?

[ridesthemiles]

EVErY SINGLE EMPLOYER YOU HAVE HED IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE HAS INFORMATION.

ALSO BANKS
MORTGAGES
CAR LOANS
MEDICAL SERVICES
TITLE LOANS

THIS IS BEYOND STUPID

[BobL]

“Another win for the Trump team. I don’t see why possible invasion of privacy worries should be any more of a concern with DOGE employees than they are with DEI hires.”

Great Point! - If Americans had any clue as to how many DEIs had access to their PERSONAL INFORMATION, they would demand that only QUALIFIED people have those types of jobs.

[Oystir]

Doge the Big Foolish Bill $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[FlingWingFlyer]

LOL! Bingo!

[Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi]

The information that these people are yapping about is the same information that your bank has, and if you’re employed, so does your employer and if you’re renting, so does your landlord.

I don’t see anybody complaining about that.

[Grampa Dave]

Add:

Any military duty.

Any trip out of conus while in our military or any Federal and state monitoring of any trip out of USA.

Any use of this or similar sites before/during/and after any
out of Conus trips.

[AndyJackson]

I'm more likely to trust Musk's team members.

DEI hires search designated democrat designated republican targets to see if they can find or make up dirt. DOGE isn't going to read anyone's file. They will use AI driven database searches looking for people who are drawing say Social Security with no record of meeting the prerequisites for drawing social security. THey are interested in the number, not the list of names even. The names go to the relevant agency for enforcement action.

[zeestephen]

Much wasted time.

Trump is the Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Branch of government.

He should order his subordinates to send him the personal data directly.

Then, de-classify and anonymize the information, then hand it to DOGE.

[CFW]

“They are interested in the number, not the list of names even.”

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I agree. DOGE members see it all as a challenging mathematical problem to solve. They don’t care about your name or any of your private information and have no reason to release it to anyone. Unless of course, those numbers lead to fraud and theft. Then they might notify the FBI/DOJ (we can hope).

[Organic Panic]

There are countless bureaucrats that have access to every single aspect of our lives and we’re suppose to be outraged someone is trying to clean up those bureaucrats.

[KarlInOhio]

The IRS contractor who stole and released the tax information for President Trump and 400,000 others got a five year sentence. That’s about six minutes per person offended.