The DOGE Data Heist: EFF Takes the Gloves Off

Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been caught red-handed, rifling through the sensitive personal data of millions of Americans like a hacker with a blank check. And now, our heroes at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and a coalition of privacy advocates are dragging them to court in an effort to shut the whole operation down.

Your Private Data Up for Grabs

Here’s the deal: the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) holds one of the largest treasure troves of personal information in the U.S.—demographic data, work histories, the whole digital dossier of every current and former federal employee, contractor, and even job applicants. This isn’t just a list of names and phone numbers; it’s the kind of data that can be weaponized, exploited, and abused.

And what did OPM do? Handed it over to DOGE, violating the Privacy Act of 1974 in broad daylight. No oversight. No safeguards. No permission. Just a straight-up data grab.

EFF and Allies Throw Down

EFF, backed by the sharp legal minds at Lex Lumina, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and the Chandra Law Firm, is taking the fight to the courts. The lawsuit demands that DOGE be permanently cut off from OPM’s database and forced to delete whatever it has already snatched.

This isn't some abstract privacy debate. This is about real people—federal employees and contractors—who are now at risk because bureaucrats decided their personal data was just another asset to be traded like poker chips.

The Precedent: The Courts Are Watching

Last week, a federal judge slammed the brakes on DOGE’s access to a critical U.S. Treasury payment system in a separate lawsuit. That was a warning shot. Now, it’s time to go for the knockout punch. If DOGE can siphon off data without consequence, what’s stopping the next power-hungry agency from pulling the same stunt?

What’s Next? 

This isn’t a hypothetical. The data has already fallen into the wrong hands. Now it’s a race against time to secure it before the damage becomes irreversible.

EFF has never backed down from a fight like this–that’s why they’re one of our all-time favorite organizations. From taking on government surveillance to defending free speech online, they’ve always stood up for your rights. And it appears they’re ready to do it again.