Federal Workers Sue Elon Musk and DOGE for Alleged Breach of Sensitive Government Data

Lawsuit Filed in New York Court

A new federal lawsuit has been filed in the Southern District of New York, alleging that Elon Musk and his agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have improperly accessed highly sensitive personnel records of current and former federal workers. The lawsuit, filed by 104 workers and various unions representing government employees, seeks to cut off DOGE’s access to OPM’s computer systems.

Unprecedented Access to OPM Records

The lawsuit claims that DOGE granted administrative access to OPM computer systems to many employees who were under the age of 25 and were or had been employees of Musk’s private companies, without undergoing any rigorous national-security vetting. This alleged breach of the Privacy Act, which prohibits improper access to personal data, including across federal agencies, has raised serious concerns.

Defendants Named in the Lawsuit

The lawsuit names Elon Musk, DOGE, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and current OPM director Charles Ezell as defendants. The complaint alleges that DOGE’s access to OPM records was unlawful and made no exception to the Privacy Act.

Young Employees with Troubled Past

The lawsuit specifically calls out 19-year-old DOGE worker Edward Coristine, who went by "Big Balls" online and was fired from a cybersecurity firm after an internal probe into data leaks during his employment. The complaint notes that DOGE’s access to federal worker data could lead to harmful professional consequences for employees, as Musk and President Trump have threatened to fire employees viewed as disloyal.

Growing Controversy Over DOGE’s Access to Sensitive Data

The lawsuit comes amid growing controversy over DOGE’s access to sensitive government data, as the agency begins instituting mass layoffs and other reforms across the federal government. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has stated that the lawsuit is "phase one" of a larger class action lawsuit.

Response from Defendants

DOGE, OPM, and representatives for Musk’s companies have not immediately responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

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