A U.S. federal judge has decided not to stop employees of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive U.S. Treasury data. This decision was made because the plaintiffs, including retirees and union members, could not show that there was an immediate risk of serious harm.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly acknowledged that mistakes were made when setting up DOGE’s access to Treasury data. However, she noted that there was no evidence that sensitive information had been shared outside the government or that such sharing was likely to happen soon. The judge emphasized that the unions have the right to sue on behalf of their members, as unauthorized disclosure of financial information is closely related to established privacy concerns in American law.
Despite this, Judge Kollar-Kotelly refused to extend a temporary order that limited DOGE’s access to Treasury data. She stated that while there were errors in granting access rights, there was no proof of actual data breaches or imminent threats. The judge contrasted her ruling with a different decision in New York, where a judge blocked DOGE from accessing certain Treasury payment systems due to concerns about potential data disclosure.
The Treasury Department has faced criticism for allowing DOGE access to sensitive data, including personal financial records. Union leaders argue that this access violates privacy laws and was granted too quickly. However, Treasury officials claim that no sensitive data has been improperly shared and that they will closely monitor DOGE’s data access.
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