US Court Rejects Request to Block Elon Musk's DOGE from Accessing Student Data

On Monday, a U.S. judge denied a request to block Elon Musk's government efficiency team, known as DOGE, from accessing student data held by the Department of Education. The ruling marks a minor win for Musk as he pushes forward with his efforts to reduce public spending, an initiative that has faced legal hurdles.

The University of California Student Association had filed a lawsuit to prevent DOGE from obtaining sensitive student information, such as social security numbers, loan data, and tax details. The group raised concerns about the potential misuse of the data by Musk's team, which is not officially recognized as a government department.

However, Federal Judge Randolph D. Moss ruled that the potential harm to students was "entirely speculative" and that the lawsuit presented no evidence beyond conjecture that Musk’s team would misuse or disseminate the data. The judge's order gives both parties time to gather additional evidence before he decides whether the lawsuit can proceed.

DOGE, which is not an official government entity, has been trying to access various federal datasets in an effort to streamline government operations. This move has attracted controversy, particularly after Musk's team attempted to access sensitive information from the U.S. Treasury Department. An internal review by the Treasury reportedly described DOGE's access as the "single biggest insider threat" to its Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

In a related development, sources have reported that the head of the Social Security Administration resigned due to DOGE's requests for access to Social Security recipient data.

This legal battle reflects the ongoing tension between Musk’s drive for government reform and concerns over privacy and data security.