Judge Denies Effort To Block DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Student Data

LOADING ERROR LOADING A judge on Monday denied a request by an organization representing students in the University of California school system to block staffers from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency from accessing sensitive data tied to federal student loans and require the Department of Education to retrieve the information already obtained by those employees. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss said the plaintiff, the University of California Student Association, failed to make a “clear showing” that “it will likely suffer irreparable harm” if the process continued. The judge found that the plaintiff’s claims that allowing DOGE staffers to access their personal data would create risks, including for identify theft, were “entirely conjectural.” “UCSA provides no evidence, beyond sheer speculation, that would allow the Court to infer that or DOGE staffers will misuse or further disseminate this information,” Moss wrote. The judge added that DOGE employees are also legally mandated “to use UCSA members’ information for lawful purposes within the mission of the Department of Education and to keep it confidential, in accordance with the Privacy Act, tax laws, and other federal laws.” Moss said none of the actions DOGE is said to have taken to identify areas where cost-cutting is warranted and eliminate programs inconsistent with the Trump administration’s priorities “should involve disclosure of any sensitive, personal information” about students.