Unions and Workers United: Musk's DOGE Faces Resistance at DOL

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released a statement today as workers protested Elon Musk's plans to target the Department of Labor (DOL):

“It’s not surprising that Elon Musk has ordered his DOGE cronies to storm the Department of Labor next. He has always seen working people as a threat. From blatant union busting at Tesla to skyrocketing worker injuries at SpaceX, Musk views his workers as expendable. Now, he has turned his attention to workers across the country. The Department of Labor fights to protect all working people – from stopping wage theft, discrimination and workplace violence to enforcing overtime, FMLA and whistleblower protection laws. People's sensitive data should not be put at risk on the whims of an un-elected billionaire who has been given unchecked power. That’s why AFSCME joined a lawsuit filed today to protect the public against DOGE accessing the DOL’s information. Musk can try to rob us of our freedoms, but he’ll have to go through unions and working people first.”

AFSCME's 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations, AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services, and freedom and opportunity for all working families.

Unions and Workers United

The lawsuit filed by AFSCME and other unions against the Treasury Department, seeking to block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive federal employee data, highlights the growing resistance from unions and workers against Musk's attempts to reshape the federal workforce and void union contracts. The lawsuit, joined by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Communication Workers of America (CWA), and the Economic Policy Institute, argues that DOGE's access to sensitive data violates federal laws and regulations, including the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code's protections for taxpayer information.

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), stated that the lawsuit is an effort to stand up for the privacy rights of American citizens and protect federal employees from Musk's unchecked power. The lawsuit contends that DOGE's behavior repeats itself across virtually every agency it enters, with agencies transformed roughly overnight or fully dismantled within a week. This rapid and unaccountable reshaping of federal agencies raises serious concerns about the potential for misuse of information, disruption of services, and lack of transparency and accountability.

Potential Consequences and Mitigation Strategies

DOGE's access to sensitive data within the Department of Labor could have several potential consequences, including privacy breaches, misuse of information, disruption of services, lack of transparency and accountability, and erosion of public confidence in the government's ability to protect sensitive information and uphold the rule of law. To mitigate these potential consequences, the following steps could be taken:

• Strengthen oversight and accountability by implementing strict guidelines for data access and usage, regular audits, and independent reviews.



• Enhance data security by implementing robust encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection systems.



• Limit data access to only the data necessary for DOGE's mission, and require approval before accessing any additional data.



• Increase transparency around DOGE's activities and data access, and subject them to public scrutiny through regular public reports and opportunities for public comment and input.



• Consider legal challenges to DOGE's access to sensitive data, as outlined in the lawsuit filed by the coalition of unions.

Conclusion

The lawsuit filed by AFSCME and other unions against the Treasury Department highlights the growing resistance from unions and workers against Elon Musk's attempts to reshape the federal workforce and void union contracts. By increasing public attention, presenting legal challenges, boosting employee morale, applying political pressure, and potentially provoking backlash, the lawsuit could influence the Trump administration's plans and ensure that federal agencies operate in a transparent, accountable, and lawful manner.

"DOGE's access to sensitive data within the Department of Labor: Potential consequences and mitigation strategies"