PRESS RELEASE: EPIC, Democracy Forward, and Federal Worker Sue DOGE for Illegal Seizure of Personal Data From Treasury, Personnel Systems

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EPIC, Democracy Forward, and a federal worker filed suit today against the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) over its illegal seizure of personnel records and payment system data—actions which constitute the largest data breach in American history. Our suit aims to shut down unlawful access to agency data systems and restore the privacy and security safeguards that the Elon Musk-run DOGE has blatantly violated. 

As the complaint explains, the Musk-run DOGE illegally forced the Treasury Department and Office of Personnel Management in recent days to disclose vast stores of personal information to unauthorized, untrained personnel. This included locking out civil servants and seizing “full access” to the government’s critical payment systems, which contain sensitive personal information of millions of Americans and disburses trillions of dollars every year.  

The Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service administers numerous payment systems containing sensitive personal information—such as social security numbers, taxpayer ID numbers, information on children, and home addresses—from tens of millions of individuals. Musk and his associates illegally accessed (and are continuing to access) this information without authorization. 

“We believe that the illegal seizure of personnel records and payment system data poses an immediate and existential threat to the privacy and security of all Americans,” said Alan Butler, Executive Director of EPIC, “and we are working diligently to stand up and challenge these unlawful actions.” 

“This is a massive and egregious breach of privacy that impacts the private information of millions of Americans,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “This seizure of personal data is the latest part of DOGE’s sweeping campaign to gain access to highly-sensitive information and weaponize the government. We will use every tool available to prevent these types of harmful and unauthorized actions by the administration, and we are grateful for EPIC’s partnership in pushing back against this invasion of Americans’ privacy.”

The security risks from this ongoing breach have only escalated. Not only have Musk and his associates illegally obtained sensitive payment documents and millions of individuals’ personal information, but screenshots of sensitive information apparently leaked from BFS systems have also been posted publicly on Twitter/X. The publication of such sensitive information from a government database presents urgent privacy, safety, and national security threats. 

Although the Musk-run DOGE was nominally established by President Trump to promote “efficiency and productivity,” it has illegally seized access to federal personal data systems to a degree far beyond any legitimate government purpose. Musk and his associates have violated numerous federal statutes restricting the handling and use of personal data and lack any of the requisite training to securely handle sensitive personal information. 

While lawmakers are raising the alarm about this illegal seizure, there is not a moment to waste. Our complaint calls on the court to block the Musk-run DOGE’s unlawful access to the Treasury and OPM’s databases, order disgorgement of all unlawfully obtained information, and ensure that measures are taken to prevent a data breach of this scale from harming Americans again.

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About EPIC

EPIC (the Electronic Privacy Information Center) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1994 to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the information age through advocacy, research, and litigation. EPIC has long advocated for robust safeguards to protect Americans’ personal information. EPIC has called for greater transparency in the government’s data collection and privacy practices and brings lawsuits against government entities that have threatened Americans’ civil liberties. 

About Democracy Forward

Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.