Over 100 current and former federal employees have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for accessing their sensitive personnel records without proper authorization. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in the Southern District of New York, alleges DOGE got the data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) without going through standard national security reviews.
Privacy Violations and Unvetted Access
According to the lawsuit, OPM granted DOGE administrative access to federal personnel records. DOGE’s agents, some under 25, were former Musk employees, not government employees.
“The Privacy Act prohibits OPM from granting DOGE access to millions of personnel records without a lawful and legitimate need,” the complaint says. Plaintiffs demand OPM cut off DOGE’s access now.
Security Risks and Potential Consequences
The lawsuit highlights the risks: identity theft, financial fraud, and even targeted firings based on political bias. It also mentions 19-year-old DOGE worker Edward Coristine, who was canned from a cybersecurity firm after a data breach investigation.
The DOGE’s access to federal worker data could seriously affect their career as they lay off and reform. Critics say Musk and former President Trump, both big on rooting out disloyal employees, could use this data to target workers.
Seeking Legal Action
Plaintiffs want an injunction to stop DOGE from accessing OPM records. Lawyer Mark Lemley told WIRED this is just “phase one” of holding Musk and DOGE accountable.
DOGE, OPM and Musk’s representatives haven’t responded to requests for comment. The case will bring more scrutiny to Musk’s influence in government and data security practices.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
