Judge blocks DOGE from accessing student loan systems at DOE

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A federal judge in Maryland has issued a ruling blocking DOGE from accessing student loan systems at the Department of Education, while also blocking access to a broader set of personnel files at the Office of Personnel Management.

Judge Deborah Boardman — who was appointed by Joe Biden, said allowing DOGE access would amount to privacy violations.

The order was made after a coalition of labor unions sued DOGE earlier this month, trying to block Elon Musk from conducting audits at the DOE, the Treasury and the OPM.

Boardman has also issued rulings blocking President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on birthright citizenship and banning DOGE from reviewing government contracts.

Boardman said federal privacy law restricts what agencies can do with personal identifying information, however the administration pointed to the law’s “need-to-know” exception.

DOGE asserts that it needs to know the information, in order to carry out President Trump’s directive to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from the federal government.