Federal Workers Sue Elon Musk and DOGE Over Unauthorized Data Access
More than 100 current and former federal employees have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the agency he leads. The plaintiffs allege that DOGE accessed federal workers’ personal data without proper authorization or security checks.
The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and other privacy rights organizations. The plaintiffs demand that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal agency responsible for human resources, immediately revoke DOGE’s access to this data.
According to court documents, OPM granted DOGE employees—most of whom are under 25 years old and previously worked at Musk’s private companies—“administrator” access to federal personnel records without undergoing the standard, rigorous national security screening.
The plaintiffs argue that this action violates the U.S. Privacy Act, which prohibits federal agencies from unlawfully and unnecessarily sharing personal data.
“The Privacy Act does not provide any exception that would justify DOGE employees’ access to OPM’s personnel databases,” the lawsuit states.
The complaint highlights that DOGE workers were not federal employees when they gained access to OPM systems. One example mentioned is 19-year-old DOGE employee Edward Coristine, known online as “Big Balls,” who was previously fired from a cybersecurity firm following an internal investigation into data leaks.
Additionally, the lawsuit warns that DOGE’s access to federal worker data could have serious professional consequences. It cites Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous threats to fire government employees deemed "disloyal." The lawsuit also raises concerns that exposing federal workers' financial records could make them vulnerable to cybercriminals and foreign hackers.
The primary goal of this lawsuit is to block DOGE’s access to federal personnel databases. However, according to Mark Lemley, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, this is just "phase one." A broader class action lawsuit is expected to follow.
As of now, DOGE, OPM, and representatives from Musk’s companies have not responded to requests for comment.
