Elon Musk's Data Heist: A Breach of Trust and Privacy

WASHINGTON—In a shocking turn of events, a coalition of labor unions representing over 2 million workers has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a data heist carried out by Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) inside three federal government departments. The suit alleges that DOGE employees, including a 19-year-old with a history of leaking proprietary information, have improperly disclosed the sensitive records of millions of Americans, violating the Privacy Act.

The Privacy Act, enacted in the wake of Watergate, carefully regulates how agency records about individuals can be shared and disclosures of personal information beyond what the statute authorizes are illegal. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, argues that DOGE's actions have led to a massive data breach that threatens to upend how critical systems are maintained and compromises the safety and security of personal identifying information for Americans all across the country.

Plaintiffs include veterans who receive benefit payments, current and former federal employees whose confidential employment files reside in OPM's system, and teachers whose pathway to the classroom was reliant on student loans to pay for college tuition. When Americans interact with the U.S. government, they often entrust federal agencies with sensitive personal information; the suit argues that this bond of trust has been broken.

AFT President Randi Weingarten condemned the breach, stating, "Elon Musk and his minions are stealing Americans’ private personal and financial data in one of the biggest data hacks in U.S. history. This is a breach of our fundamental freedoms. Right now, inside the Department of Education, the world’s richest man is rifling through 45 million people’s private student loan accounts and feeding the data into artificial intelligence."

NARFE National President William “Bill” Shackelford echoed Weingarten's concerns, noting, "The federal government holds in trust vast amounts of data about American citizens, including federal employees and retirees. Without legal guardrails in place to prevent improper use of such data, we risk disclosure to nefarious actors, and abuse by individuals within the government itself, threatening personal liberty and property."

IAM Union International President Brian Bryant added, "Government agencies are not private entities that billionaires can simply buy and rummage through. Congressional oversight, advocacy and voting are how we make government work for us, not reckless takeovers that put the personal data of millions of Americans into the hands of unqualified, unvetted political operatives. It is up to us—the working families of America—to stand up here and now to protect our privacy and our democracy."

NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin emphasized the potential consequences of the breach, stating, "The richest person on the planet hacking into confidential and personal information is not only illegal, but also incredibly dangerous. Musk and his DOGE operatives have no right to access extremely sensitive information of the American public, particularly federal workers who have been targeted and attacked since inauguration day. It is clear that these unauthorized actors intend to use this illegally acquired data to advance their political agenda and undermine the civil service."

Kristy Parker, Counsel to the plaintiffs at Protect Democracy, warned, "We’re watching in real time as Trump’s cronies break the law to get access to Americans’ most sensitive and personal data. No one should be fooled into thinking they’re doing this for our benefit—to save us money or make our lives better. Their goal is to snoop on vast amounts of Americans’ data and try to use what they find to enrich themselves, reward their allies, and punish their critics."

The full complaint can be read here.

In conclusion, the data breach carried out by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has eroded public trust in the federal government, compromised the privacy and security of millions of Americans, and raised serious ethical concerns. It is crucial for the government to address this breach promptly and effectively to mitigate the long-term consequences for affected individuals and restore public trust in government institutions.