4th Circuit Vacates Blocking of DOGE Access to Sensitive Data
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned a district court decision to block the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to sensitive data at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Education Department. A consumer advocate panned the decision.
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In March, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland sided with the plaintiffs and granted a preliminary injunction against the federal government (see 2503240055), but the 4th Circuit later lifted it while the appeal was pending in a split decision (see 2504080042).
"In accordance with the decision of this court, the district court order entered March 24, 2025, is vacated," said the judgment in case 25-1282. "This case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with the court's decision."
The case began as 25-00430 at the district court in February when the American Federation of Teachers and others filed suit for violations of the Privacy Act, among other federal laws, as well as motioned for a temporary restraining order (see 2502250011.
In an email, Center for Democracy & Technology CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens blasted the 4th Circuit's decision, calling it "reckless" and saying it "threatens our country’s bedrock values around safeguarding privacy."
She added, "This comes less than a week after the Trump Administration forced out the IRS Commissioner following reports that the agency refused to turn over sensitive tax information about immigrants to the Department of Homeland Security."
"These events are part of a disturbing effort by the federal government to amass information about people and overturn longstanding privacy norms under the guise of fighting fraud, waste, and abuse." Reeve Givens added, "Now, the courts are giving this Administration the greenlight to continue playing fast and loose with all of our most sensitive information."