Overview

• The appeals court refused to block the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing computer systems and personal data at the Departments of Education, Treasury and the Office of Personnel Management, reversing a district-court order.
• Judges concluded that the unions and veterans challenging DOGE’s authority have not demonstrated concrete harm or legal standing because data reviews are not final agency actions.
• In dissent, one judge argued a temporary injunction would have been prudent to protect Social Security and citizenship records during ongoing litigation.
• Plaintiffs such as the American Federation of Teachers, National Federation of Federal Employees and a group of military veterans cite potential Privacy Act violations and cybersecurity risks in cross-agency data consolidation.
• Created by executive order in January to identify waste and cut federal spending, DOGE operates without formal congressional authorization and remains embroiled in multiple lawsuits despite Elon Musk’s departure as its leader in May.