Federal Workers Sue Elon Musk & Dogecoin Over Data Access

Federal Workers Sue Elon Musk and Government Efficiency Agency

A new federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday reveals that over 100 current and former federal employees are taking legal action against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) he leads.

The claim centers around allegations of unauthorized access to highly confidential personnel records, reportedly granted without sufficient scrutiny or authorization.

Lawsuit Details and Plaintiffs

The lawsuit, brought forth in the Southern District of New York, is spearheaded by the Electronic Frontier Foundation alongside other privacy advocacy groups.

Representing 103 workers and multiple government worker unions, the plaintiffs are seeking a cessation of access to OPM systems for DOGE and its associated personnel.

Concerns Regarding Vetting Procedures

According to the lawsuit, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provided DOGE and its agents with ‘administrative’ access to OPM computer systems.

A key concern raised is that this access was granted without the standard, thorough national-security vetting process typically required.

Named Defendants

The complaint specifically names Elon Musk, DOGE, the OPM, and the current OPM director, Charles Ezell, as the parties responsible.

Alleged Privacy Act Violations

The lawsuit asserts that DOGE’s acquisition of OPM records constitutes a violation of the Privacy Act.

This act prohibits the improper access of personal data, even when occurring between different federal agencies.

Lack of Legitimate Need for Access

The complaint argues that the Privacy Act prohibits OPM from transferring access to its extensive personnel records to DOGE.

It emphasizes that DOGE lacks a lawful or legitimate justification for requiring such access, and no exceptions within the Privacy Act apply to their situation.

Concerns About Agent Qualifications

The lawsuit highlights that many DOGE agents accessing OPM networks were not, at the time, official government employees.

Specifically, it points to Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old DOGE worker, who was previously terminated from a cybersecurity firm following an investigation into data leaks.

Potential Harm to Federal Workers

The suit alleges that DOGE’s access to federal worker data could lead to detrimental professional repercussions.

This concern stems from previous statements made by Musk and former President Trump regarding the potential dismissal of employees perceived as disloyal.

Furthermore, the disclosure of financial data could expose workers to cyberattacks from malicious actors, including criminals and foreign entities.

Context of Ongoing Reforms

This legal challenge arises amidst increasing scrutiny of DOGE’s access to sensitive government data.

This scrutiny coincides with the agency’s implementation of widespread layoffs and other reforms throughout the federal government.

Future Legal Action

While the immediate goal is to secure an injunction halting DOGE’s access, attorneys indicate this is merely the first phase of a broader legal strategy.

Mark Lemley, representing the plaintiffs, stated that this initial action will likely be followed by a class action lawsuit, as reported by WIRED.

Lack of Immediate Response

Requests for comment from DOGE, OPM, and representatives of Musk’s companies have not yet been answered.