US federal judge allows lawsuit to proceed on DOGE data access

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A federal judge in New York ruled Thursday that a lawsuit challenging the government's handling of sensitive employee data under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative can move forward.

Judge Denise Cote Judge Denise Cote denied the bulk of the government's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by current and former federal employees.

The suit alleges the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) improperly granted DOGE agents access to databases containing personal information like Social Security numbers, health records and financial data for millions of federal workers.

Cote decided to dismiss two specific technical claims but allowed the core arguments to proceed, including allegations that OPM acted illegally and arbitrarily by granting access without proper security measures, and DOGE officials overstepped their legal authority regarding OPM data.

The lawsuit, filed Feb. 11 claims DOGE agents received broad access to sensitive personnel databases without employee consent, proper vetting or lawful need. The plaintiffs argue it violated standard procedures and created risks of data misuse, identity theft and cyberattacks.

Cote's ruling means the case will continue examining whether the data-sharing arrangement violated privacy laws and proper administrative procedures.

“Today’s legal victory sends a crystal-clear message: Americans’ private data stored with the government isn't the personal playground of unelected billionaires,” said the American Federation of Government Employees' President Everett Kelley, a plaintiff in the case.